That neither TEMPORALLITIE● Nor TITHES Is due to the Bishops, Prelates nor Clergy, by a Gospel Rule.  
AND That Kings, Princes and Lords Temporal, may j●●●ly take the temporalities and Tithes from them, and dispose of the● the defence and benefit of the Kingdom, and the relief of the Poor.  
PROVED By the Laws and practice of twenty Kings of Judah, England, and France as also by the testimonies of the Universities of Oxford and Prague, fifty four o●… Nobles of Bohemia and Morania, two hundred and fifty years ago, and al●… one hundred and twenty Authors beside.  
Together with some directions how Gospel Ministers ought to have maintenance, according to the Gospel rule, and institutions of jesus Christ.  
By E. K.  Thou O King art a King of Kings, for the God of Heaven hath given thee a Kin● of Power and Strength, and glory and wheresoever the Children of Men dwell, the 〈◊〉 the Field, and the Fowls of the Heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath ma●… ruler over them all, Dan. 2.37, 38. And of the Children of Issachar which were Men that had understanding of the tim● know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred, and all their bre●… were at their command, 1 Chron. 12.32. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee, and David commanded a●… Princes to help the King, 1. Chron. 22.16, 17. Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee, we also will be with thee, be of good c●… and do it, Ezra, 10.4. 
Printed in the Year 1672.   

〈…〉 mentioned in this book, with their practices and examples as followeth.  

●…olomon  
●…osiash  
Hezekiah  
Ahaz  
Edmond  
Edgar  
●…nry 2.  
●…ward 3.  
●…lliam  
●…nry 4.  
●…chard 2.  
●…nry 8.  
●…lus Magnus  
●…arles 6.  
●…lip  
●…mp. Lodovicu  
●…chadnezzar  
●…ation  
●…nius.  
●…0 King's  
●…estimony of th●●…versities of Ox●… and Prague.  
●…estimony of 54 ●…he Nobles of ●…mia & Moravia  
●…stin 1  
●…alamus 2  
●…rose 3  
●…m 4  
●…ard 5  
●…bius 6  
●…re 7  
●…ughton 8  
●…osthead 9  
〈◊〉 Gregory 10  
●…pplication to K. ●…ry 8. 11  
〈◊〉 Prophesy of ●…degard. 12  
〈◊〉 Leo 13  
〈◊〉 Canterbury 14  
〈◊〉 Fox. 15  
Sr. Wil Negar●to 16  
Lord Peter de Cugmeriis. 17  
Prosper 18  
Latemir 19  
Eneus Silvius 20  
Julian Palmer 21  
The Protestant Church at Paris. 22  
Anne. du. Burg. 23  
Joys. du. Faur. 24  
Origin 25  
Mr. Frith 26  
Paulinus 27  
James his Deacon 28  
Ammonius 29  
B. Adaccus 30  
Mr. Elmer 31  
Erasmus 32  
Jasper Bruschio 33  
Clemant 34  
Jo. Segovius 35  
Card. Aralatenses 36  
B. of Burgen 37  
Chrysostom 38  
Polecronecon 39  
Patriarch of Alexandria 40  
Austin Monk 41  
Cutbard B. of Canterbury. 42  
Petrus Blesenses 43  
Angelo Caraw. 44  
Rich. B. of Cant. 45  
Simon Fish. 46  
Pope Innocent 47  
The testimony of 21 Bish. 8 arch Deac. 17. Doc. of Cannon and civil Law. 48  
Richard Armacanus 49  
Cyprean 50  
John Hus. 51  
Mr. Tindal 52  
Henry Stubbridg 53  
Wil Prynne 54  
Godfr. Goodman 55  
Jo. Salisbury 56  
Ex. Catal. Illyr 57  
Alixander Sabritius 58  
The counterfeit of Lucefers Letter to the Prelate. 59  
Lord Cobham 60  
Wil Ocham 61  
Armulphus 62  
Hostenensis 63  
Rich. Wimbleton 64  
Wil Swinderby 65  
Anselm 66  
A Cannon of afric. 67  
Suetonius 68  
Melancton 69  
Ste. Gardner 70  
Rich. Feverus 71  
Rich. Lovingham 72  
Huldrick 73  
Mr. Rogers 74  
Panormetanus 75  
Walter Mill 76  
Doc. Molius 77  
Jo. C●●ydon 78  
Rich. Turming 79  
Selestudiensis 80  
Ilyrico 81  
Reynold Peacock Bish. 82  
Io. Brothwick 83  
The Tigurins at Zurick 84  
Cornelius Bish. of Rome. 85  
St. Laurence 86  
Wil Thorpe 87  
Walter Brute 88  
Mersilius 89  
Nichol Herford 90  
Phil. Ripingdon 91  
john Ashton 92  
Pope Alexander and 310 Bishops. 93  
Doctor Hall 94  
Georg. Cassander 95  
john Wicklife 96  
The Image of Abish 97  
Roderick Mo●ch 98  
Martin Bucer 99  
john Hooper 100  
Th. Walsingam 101  
A nameless Aut. 102  
Clement next successor of St. Peter 103  
Mr. Mead 104  
Volusianus 105  
Dr. whitchcote 106  
The 20 and 21 Articles of Church of England. 107  
Norfolk, and Suffolk men's supplications. 108  
Bish. Nilus' 109  
john Gerson 110  
Bartil 111  
Henenius Modesteinus. 112  
Mr. Hooker 113  
Dr. Downam 114  
Bilson 115  
Saravia 116  
Holinshead 117  
Arch Bishop of St. Andrews 118  
Bish. of Duncel 119  
Bish of Orkneys 120  
Mr. Perkins 121    

The Epistle Dedicatory TO THE KING'S Most excellent MAJESTY.  
May it please your Majesty.  

Augu●  ST. Augustin in an Epistle to Cassulamus saith, that he which for fear of any power hideth the truth which 〈◊〉 learned, 
Chrysostom  provoketh the Wrath of God to come 〈…〉 ●nd Chrysostom saith, he is not only a Traitor to the● 〈…〉 openly for truth teacheth a lie, but he also which doth 〈…〉; show forth that truth which he knoweth, the considerate 〈◊〉 these sentences so prevailed with me, that I durst not be such a Traitor neither to God nor to your Majesty, as to conceal what I have learned, which as I conceive may tend to the glory of God, in the exaltation of the truth of the Gospel of Christ, and to the honour of your Majesty, and the benefit of your Majesty's Kingdom, both in Church and Commonwealth, whereby your Majesty may be supplied with Money for the necessary charges of the Kingdom, and the relief of the Poor, and easing your Subjects something in their Taxations, by turning the stream into the right Channel, by taking the temporalities from the Prelates, etc. into your Majesty's hands again, they being your own Right, belonging formerly to your Predecessors, and the conditions now failing for which they were given, as will appear hereafter in this discourse God willing.  
But perhaps it will be objected that it is sacrilege to take the temporalities, etc. from the Church, I answer if it be granted to be sacralidge to take from the Church, yet I hope upon trial, it will appear that the Prelates are not the Church, and that the Prelates are sacralidgous persons, in detaining and converting the temporalities to their own private uses, which was given to the Church, and the Poor, and other pious uses, the Prelates being only Stewards thereof, or Overseers for the use of the Church and the Poor, but have proved unfaithful Stewards.  
Now that the Prelates are not the Church will thus appear, when the Church of Anteoch sent Paul and Barnabas, etc. as their Messengers to the Council at Jerusalem, the Text saith Acts 15.4. When they came to Jerusalem 
* The ●urch ●ot the ●elates ●t the ●ngre●●ons of sievers.  they were received of the Church, that is of the Church of believers, and of the Apostles and Elders, hence we see that the Apostles and Elders are not called the Church, they were but particular Church members with other believ rs, and according to th●s the nineteenth Article of the Church of England, describes a visible Church of Christ, to be a congregation of faithful m n, etc. also Paul admonished the Elders of Ephesus to feed the Church of God, that is the believing Christians. Act. 20.28.  
●ug stin St. Augustin saith of himself and all other Prelates in the 23 question and 7. If we possess any thing privately, but that which doth suffice us, it is not ours but the goods of the Poor, whose stewards we are, except we challenge to ourselves a property by some damnable usurpation, the gl●ss upon that part of the question saith, that Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods, and not Lords thereof.  
●mbrose And St. Ambrose upon Luke 16.2. Give an account of thy Stewardship, etc. hereby saith he, We learn that Prelates are not Lords, but Steward or bailiffs of others men's substance.  
●ierom. And St. Hierom in an Epistle, quest. 16. and 2. chap. Quisquid, saith whatsoever the Clergy hath, it is the goods of the Poor, and writing unto Nepolianus he saith, how can they be of the Clergy, who are commanded to contemn and despise their own substance, for to take away from a Friend it is theft, but to deceive the Church and take away that which should be given to the Poor, it is sacralidge.  
●arnard. And St. Barnard upon these words, Simon Peter said unto Jesus, etc. Truly said he the goods of the Church are the patrimony of the Poor, & whatsoever thing the Ministers & Stewards thereof, not Lords or Possessors thereof, do take unto themselves more then sufficient for a competent living, the same is taken away from the Poor, by a sacralidgious cruelty.  
●usebeus Eusebeus in his Treatise upon the pilgrimage of St. Hierom saith, If thou dost possessed garment or any other thing more than extreme necessity doth require, and dost not help the needy, thou art a Thief, and a Robber, wherefore dearly beloved Children let us be Stewards of temporalities and not possessors thereof.  
And Isidor in his Treatise de summo bono. ch. 24. Let the Bishop know that he is the Servant of the people, and not Lords over them, a● also in the 5. book o● Decrae●als. extra. ●e. donationibus, sub. atho●itate Alixandrii. Tartii. Episcopi. Paritienses, he saith, We believe that it is no● unknown unto your Brotherhood, that a Bishop and every other Prelate, is bu● Stewards of the Church goods, and not Lords thereof, both Lands and Tithes saith he are pure Alms, which after the necessity of the Clergy is satisfied, no● according to their pride and covetousness, but in comely ●cent manner, ofte● the example of Christ and his Apostles, the rest b●longe●●o the Poor, and thos● that withhold it from them, they are Thiefs, Robbers, 〈◊〉 Sacralidgious persons, saith he.  
William Wroughton Thus it is manifest by what is already said, besides what is said here after, that Kings, and Princes, and Lords Temporal, by taking the temporalities, etc. from the Prelates, and disposing of them for the use an● benefit of the true Church the believing m mbers of Christ, and the poor and the benefit and safety of the Kingdom, the uses for which they wer● first given, they will in so doing be so far from committing sacraledge that they will do a work pleasing and acceptable both to God and all good men, to their everlasting honour, by putting a stop to the pride, & wanton and luxurious riotous lives of some, which is occasioned by the uperfluity of worldly wealth and riches, which they wrongfully possess and detain from the right owners thereof, having forsaken the right way, and followed the way of Baalim, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, 2 Pet. 2.15 By with holding good from them to whom it is due, Pro. 3.27. and as William Wroughton writ to King Henry the eight, so long as ye maintain Antich●ist, the Pope's Knights, that is Bishops in such inordinate riches, you shall never saith he banish that monstrous beas● the Pope out of England.  
When we say that such and such Lands were given to the Church, w● cannot imagine that they were given to such a building of lime and stone and timber, nor to such a parish, and so to him that should usurp authority of Rule and Government there from age to age, whether he be good o● bad, holy or profane, for such are not to be accounted the Church, no● so much as particular members of the true Church, which is the m●st●ca● body of Christ, except they believe, and all that do believe truly without hypocrisy, rich and poor they are interested in the Church Lands and Goods, all the poor in general are objects of Charity, to do good unto all but especially to such as are of the huoshold of Faith, Gal. 6.10.  
In the time of the Law when Tithes was paid by a divine institution unto the Levites, for their service in the Tabernacle and Temple, because ●hey had no inheritance of temporal Land among their Brethren, yet even ●hen the strangers, fatherless and widows, had an interest in the Tithes ●s you may see in Deut. 14.28, 29. and Chap. 26.12, 13 and since that service ceased for which tithes were paid, there is no new institution in ●he Gospel for the payment of tithes, and yet our Prelates and Priests as ●hey will be called, will have both temporal Lands and tithes, and keep ●ll to themselves, neither widows nor fatherless have any thing, and ●herefore it can be no sacralidge but a work of Charity, for Kings and Princes, and Lords Temporal to take the temporalities from them for ●he benefit of the Kingdom, and tithes also, or at least to cause them to allow some part thereof unto the poor.  
The with holding of tithes, etc. From such to whom they are due, as to ●he believing Church, the poor, the Fatherless and widows, God calls ●t a Robbing of him in tithes and offerings, Mal. 3.8, 9 For Christ saith whatsoever good or evil is done to one of the least of those little ones that believe on him, it is taken as done to himself, Mat. 25.40, and 45. yea even ●hose of the Clergy who are not true believers, they have no right nor ti●le from God to the Church goods, and God will charge them as having ●he spoil of the poor in their Houses, Isaiah 3.14.  
Suppose the Prelates should plead for themselves that temporalities ●nd tithes have been settled upon them by many Acts of Parliament, to ●hat it may be answered, that no Act of Parliament on Earth can make ●oid the Law of God enacted in Heaven, viz. That when tithes were ●aid by a divine institution, yet the Stranger, Fatherless and Widows, ●ad by divine appointment a right and interest in them, how then dare ●y now receive tithes, not by divine, but by human institution, and yet ●ye no part thereof unto the poor, the Stranger, Fatherless nor Widow, ●e may rationably imagine that it was because of the hardness of the ●arts of Prelates and Priests, in keeping that to themselves which belonged to the poor, which caused that Noble King Carrolous Magnus to have it decreed in a counsel, that in wealthy places two parts of the Church ●ods should be given to the poor, and the third part to the Clergy, and 〈◊〉 poorer places that there should be an equal division between the poor ●d the Clergy, and if by the covetous unsatiable desires of the Prelates ●d Clergy, they have gotten the Church Lands and tithes settled upon them by many Acts of Parliament, yet another Parliament, upon better information, and better consideration, of the Kingdom's necessity and daily charge and the necessity of the poor, and the unlawful spending of the Church goods, by them which have no right unto them, but spend them quite contrary to the intent and meaning of the Donors, why may not the King, Princes, and Lords temporal, take again into their hands the Church goods which was given by their Predecessors, from them which so sacreligiously abuse and usurp them, and employ them for the benefit of the Church and Kingdom and the relief of the poor.  
If the King commit a power into any man's hand, and find that he or they do abuse that power, he may not only lawfully, but he ought to take that power from them again, the whole Popish Clergy of Bishops, Prelates, Abbots, Priors, and Monks in England, had once their privileges and temporalities settled upon them by act of Parliament, and yet the King and Council seeing the inconvenience thereof, by another Parliament took those privileges, temporalities and tithes from them, and so may this or another Parliament do by our Prelates for the benefit of the Church and Kingdom, and the relief of the poor.  
For Bishops and Prelates are useless in the Church of Christ because they are none of those Church Officers which Christ gave to the Church at his ascension, Ephe. 5.11. he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, their is a●ed in 1 Co. 12.28. helps that is Deacons to minister to the poor, and goverments that is ruling Elders, now ruling Elders are inferior to teaching Elders, as Paul saith, 1 Ti. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well b● counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine, they who labour in the word and doctrine, they especially are worthy of double honour rather than the ruling Elders, in Paul's judgement, and he had the Spirit of God to teach him, now if Christ who is the alone Lawgiver to his Church, saw these Church Officers sufficient for these four ends for which he ordained them, as first for the perfecting of th● the Saints. 2ly. For the work of the ministry. 3ly. For the edifying o● the Church, which is the body of Christ. 4ly. For the time, till we al● come in the unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God Then all other pretended Church Officers, are superfluous and useless besides St. Paul saith that he shuned not to declare unto the Church, the whole counsel of God, and that he kept nothing back that was profitable for the Church, but taught them publicly and from House to House; Acts. 20.20.27. And yet in all his Epistles he hath not made mention of any Lord Primot or Metropolitant, or Prelate, or the like as any of Christ's Church officers, or of their dignities, or jurisdictions as being profitable to the Church, but only those Church Officers mentioned above in Eph. 4.11.12. and 1 Cor. 12.28. Therefore all other are strange Creatures, which neither Christ nor Paul, nor the Scriptures of the New Testament makes any mention off, unless those that Paul speaks of verse 29. that after his departure grievous Wolves would enter not sparing the Flock, yea the Papists themselves say that there is but three sacred orders in the Church, all the rest by their own confession is of human devising  
Again as Bishops and Prelates are useless in the Church, so also they are usurpers of the King's royal prerogatives, in making out their prossesses, sitations, suspentions, sensors, and excommunications and the li●e in their own names, and by making, Printing, and publishing in their own Names, New Visitation Oaths, Articles, Injunctions, Cannons, Rites, and Ceremonies, and enforcing them upon Ministers, Scoolmasters, Churchwardens, and others, and have excommunicated, suspended, Silenced, fined, imprisoned, and persecuted, his Majesty's faithful Subjects, for not submitting to their usurped power, as though they were Kings and Governors, both of Church and State, contrary to several Statutes and to Magna Charta and the Petition of right, as Mr. Prinne saith in his Book of the Exorbitances, Treasons, Seditions, and Conspirecies of Bishops, etc.  
Your Majesty's most humble and obedient Subject and Servant, E. K.   

The General and unanimous consent of Ancient and Modern Writers, against Prelates and Priests, their possessing of Temporalities and Tithes.  
HIstories do relate, that when Bishops began to be possessed of Temporal Lands, than an Angel was heard to cry in the A●re, Woe, Woe, Woe, This day is Poison begun to come into the Church: and so it proved, for many striving for Lordship and Dominion, and could not prevail, turned Heretics in malice to be revenged on them that were preferred before them; as Donatus, who because Cecilianus was preferred before him to the Bishopric of Carthage, Donatus turned Heretic, from whom his followers took the name of Donatists; and he accused Cecilianus, and all the Bishops that Ordained him to be Traditories. This Woe and Poison of Prelates possessing of Temporalities hath made the Possessors thereof in all Ages to malign and hate even unto death, all sorts and degrees of men that have spoken against their worldly gain and profits, and admonisheth them to follow the Example of Christ and his Apostles and the Priests of the Levitical Law, who had no Possessions of Temporal Lands: Yea, the Prelates have manifestly declared their malice against such even after death, as the Council of Constance who condemned John Wickliff and his 45. Articles, and by a Decree caused his bones to be digged up and burnt one and forty yea after he was dead, which Condemnation the University of Prague would not receive, but defended them by Arguments from Scripture and Reason, which was about the year 1418. I shall mention two or three of the Articles, and some few of the Universities Arguments in defence of them.  

The ARTICLES.  
Item, Kings, Princes, and Lords Temporal may at their own will and pleasure take away the temporal goods from the Clergy if they do offend, and therein continue.  
Item, It is against the Scripture, that Ecclesiastical Ministers should have any temporal Possessions.  
Item, That Tenths are pure Alms; and that the Parishio ne'er may for the offence of their Ministers, deteyn and keep them back, and bestow them upon others at their own will and pleasure, etc.  
That Kings and Lords Temporal may take Temporalities from Prelates, the University proves thus: Kings in the Old-Testament took temporal goods from the Clergy, etc. Therefore Kings of the New Testament may do the like, 1 Kings 2.  


1 Solomon. Solomon deposed Abiather the High Priest because he took part with Adonijah, and set up Zadock the Priest in his room, and this (say they) was a greater matter then to take away temporalities, for Abiather was put both from his Priesthood, and from his Maintenance.   

2 Nebuchadnezzer. Also Nebuchadnezzer had power given him of God to lead away the Children of Israel, with the Priests and Levites, into the Captivity of Babylon. Hasael King of Syria came against Jerusalem. 2 Kings 12.17, 18. and   

3 King Jehoash. Jehoash of whom the Scripture witnesseth that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days, and yet for the safety of his Kingdom, without taxing his Subjects, he took all the hallowed things that Jehosaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah▪ his Fathers, Kings of Judah had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the Gold that was found in the Treasury of the house of the Lord, and in the King's house, and sent it to Hazael King of Syria, and he went away from Jerusalem: And this was much more than the taking away of the usurped Temporalities of the Prelates to defray the Kingdoms Charge, and to relieve the Poor to whom it is due, as is showed in the Epistle.   

4 Hezekiah. Again, It is said of the good King Hezekiah, 2 Kings 18.3. that he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his Father did: he put down Idolatry, as in verse 4. so that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah, nor any that were before him, for he trusted in the Lord and clavae to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his Commandments, and the Lord was with him, and he prospered, etc. as in verse 5, 6, 7. And when Senache●●b 〈◊〉 ●f Assyria came up against Judah, Hezekiah gave him all the Silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the Treasuries of the King's house, and he cut off the Gold from the doors of the house of the Lord, and from the Pillars which were overlaid with Gold and gave it to the King of Assyria, as verse 15, 16. Any one of these things done by King Jehoash, and King Hezekiah was much more than for our King and Nobles to take the usurped Temporalities from the Prelates and Priests to defray the Kingdom's charges, and to relieve the poor; and yet this was not counted Sacrilege in these Religious Kings in taking the Church goods for public uses, for they are not reproved, but commended for doing that which was right in sight of the Lord.   

5 Ahaz. Also in 2 Kings 16.8. when Rezin King of Syria, and Pekah son of Remaliah King of Israel came up against Ahaz King of Judah to Jerusalem, Ahaz took the Silver and the Gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the Treasuries of the King's house, and sent it as a present to the King of Assyria to come and help him, etc. We do not read that any of these good Kings of Judah laid any Tax upon their Subjects, though it was Lawful for them so to do, but in the first place, for to defray the Kingdom's charges, to secure themselves and their Subjects they took the goods of the Church; much more may our Kings and Nobles take the Temporalities and Tithes for the Kingdoms use, because the Temporalities was their Predecessors, and those that now have them, hold them by usurpation, the conditions for which they were given being broken: And Tithes are pure Alms, or as it were a free will offering of the people, not paid now under the Gospel by any Divine Institution: Therefore the King may at his pleasure have the profits brought into his Treasuries for the public benefit of the Kingdom.   

6 In Mat. 12.1, 2, 3. the Disciples on the Sabbaoth being an hungered, plucked ears of Corn and eat them, the Pharises rebuked them, but Christ answered them; have ye not read what David did when he was an hungered and they that were with him, how he entered into the house of the Lord, and did eat the Shewbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor they that were with him, but for the Priests only, and yet Christ did not count this Sacrilege, whereby it doth appear that it is lawful in time of necessity to use any thing, be it never so much consecrated. Therefore if need require, the King and Lords temporal may take the Prelate's Temporalities, Gleab Lands and Tithes from them.   

7 Titus Vespasian. Titus and Vespasian, secular Princes, had power given them of God twenty four years after the Lord's Ascension, to take away Church goods from the Priests that had offended against the Lords holy one, and it seemeth unto many, they did, and might worthily do the same according to God's good will and pleasure: And forasmuch as our Priests may transgress and offend as much, and rather more against the Lords Anointed; It followeth that by the pleasure of God, our secular Lords may likewise punish our Priests and Prelates offences by taking their Temporalities, etc. from them.   

8 Ambrose. Our Saviour being King of Kings, and High-Bishop with his Disciples did pay Tribute unto Caesar: Whereby he gave Example to all Priests and Prelates to pay Tribute unto their Kings. Ambrose in his fourth book on Luke 5. saith, If the Son of God pay Tribute, who art thou, that thinkest thou oughtest not to pay? If thou wilt not be in danger of Caesar, possess not those things that are Caesar's, for if thou hast Riches thou art in danger of Caesar. In his eleventh Question. Magnum quidem; If thou wilt owe nothing to the King, forsake all Earthly things and follow Christ? If then all Ecclesiastical Ministers having Riches, aught to be in subjection to Kings, and pay them Tribute; it followeth; that Kings may lawfully, by the Authority given them of God, take away their Temporalities, as in Dan. 2.37, 38. The God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom, Power, and Strength, and Glory; and wheresoever the Children of men dwell, that is as far as any King's Empire or Dominion doth extend, the Beasts of the Field, and the Fowls of the Heaven hath he given into thine hand; and hath made thee Ruler over them all; and if so, than the abused and usurped Temporalities in the Clergies hands, are given of God into the King's hand, and he may lawyfully take possession of them, and employ the Rents thereof for the defence of his Subjects and Kingdoms, and the relief of the Poor, which was the end for which they were given by our King and Nobles Predecessors.   

9 Again, St. Ambrose allegeth in the eleventh question, that all things are under the power of the Emperor, and if the Emperor require Tribute, we do not deny, that the Lands of the Church shall pay Tribute: If the Emperor have need of Church Lands, he hath power to challenge them, let him take them if he will, thus (say they) Ambrose expressly declareth that Secular Lords have power at their pleasure to take away the Lands of the Church, and so consequently they have power to take away Temporal goods from Ecclesiastical Ministers, as Tithes, etc.   

10 Augustine. St. Augustine, in 33. quest. 7. si de rebus, he saith, that Secular Lords may lawfully take away temporal goods from Heretics, and for so much as it is a Case greatly poseable, that many of the Clergy are users of Simony, and thereby Heretics; Therefore Secular Lords may lawfully take away their Temporalities from them. The word of the Lord to all wicked men is; That the Kingdom of God shall be taken from them, and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. By Kingdom of God in this Text, Mat. 21.43. is meant the privileges of the visible Church, which shall be taken from wicked men. 
Robert Grosthead.  And here it were fit to consider of Robert Grosttheads, the Bishop of Lincoln who died in the year 1253. his definition of Heresy; viz. That Heresy is a Sentence taken and chosen of man's own brain, contrary to holy Scripture, openly maintained and stiffly defended: Now consider, whether none of our Prelates do maintan no Canons nor Ceremonies nor Opinions contrary to holy Scripture, nor contrary to the 19, 20, nor 21. Articles of the Church of England, and so stand guilty of Heresy by this definition of Heresy of Robert Grosthead— If any object that it is a desiring of other men's goods; St. Austin answers, That by the same rule the seven Nations that did abuse the Land of promise, and were cast out by the power of God, they might have objected the same to the Children of Israel; We saith Augustine, do not desire other men's goods, for they are ours by the Commandment of him by whom all things were made, by like evidence the Clergy having offended, their temporal goods are made the goods of others; that is lawfully possessed, saith he, in the 14. quest. 4. which is justly possessed, and that is justly possessed which is well possessed; ergo, all that is evilly possessed is another man's, and he doth ill possess it which doth evil use it, and for the evil using of it, it hath been proved in the Epistle that Prelates are unfaithful Stewards, and have converted to their own uses for Coaches, and Horses, and Riotous living, that which belongs to the poor; besides no Clergyman hath any right to Temporalities by any Institution of Christ, and therefore both evilly possessed and evilly used by them.  
If then saith he the Clergy do abuse the temporal goods, as it hath been proved they do, the temporal Lords may at their pleasure according to the rule of Charity take the temporal goods from the Clergy, for they do not justly possess them; for besides the right that temporal Lords have to temporal lands, as belonging formerly to their Predecessors, and the conditions not performed nor which they were given, which was to the Church and to the Poor. Temporal Magistrates are Gods Ministers and Revengers, to execute wrath upon them that do evil, attending continually upon this very thing, Rom. 13.4.6. which if they neglect they make themselves guilty of the Prelate's sins; for the University quotes Gregory, writing to the French King, That he which may correct any sin, and neglect the same, without doubt he maketh himself partaker of the sin and offence. And John Wickliff saith in the thirteenth Article; That it is not only lawful for Lords Temporal to take away goods of fortune from Churchmen sinning usually; But also they are bound so to do under pain of Eternal Damnation.   

11 Gregory. St. Gregory in his 7th book, chap. 9 writing to the French Queen, saith, Forasmuch, as wicked Priests are the cause of the ruin of the people; for who shall make intercession for the sins of the People, if the Priests that should do it have committed greater offences themselves, which in your Dominion live wickedly; therefore, that the offences of a few bring not destruction upon many, we ought to seek a remedy. And a little after, to the King he said, Yet once again we move you to command a Synod, and cause all the carnal vices of Priests, and Wickedness and Simony of Bishops to be removed, and that you do not suffer them to possess any more substance than God's commandment doth allow, and that is neither Temporalities nor Tyths that the Gospel commandments doth allow; 
Mat. 10.9, 10.  for when Christ sent his Disciples to preach, he commanded they should provide neither Gold nor Silver, nor Brass in their Purses, nor Script for their Journey, neither two Coats, nor Shoes, nor staves, for the Workman is worthy of his meat. But how contrary to this Command of Christ are our Bishops and Prelates in these days, and yet in words they pretend to succeed the Apostles in place and power; But the Apostles had not hundreds nor thousands of Gold and silver by the year; they had not Shoes for their Journey, but ours have Shoes and Boots, and Coaches and Horses, and multitudes of Attendants: Is this to obey the Commandment of Christ? and to imitate Christ and his Apostles? Foxes have holes, 
Mat. 8.20.  and the Birds of the Air have nests, but the Son of Man, which was also the Son of God, hath not whereon to lay his head. But our Prelates have their stately Palaces, and great Houses. Our Saviour saith, Mat. 12. He that is not with me is against me; and that the Tree is known by h●s fruit. and in Mat. 7.15, 16. Christ bids us to beware of False Prophets, and teacheth us how we shall know them, he saith they come in sheep's clothing, they pretend to be sheep, but inwardly they are Ravening Wolves, ye shall know them by their fruits. I name no man, but leave the people of God to judge by the fruits, by the fruits of men's lives to judge who they are, and one mark to know them by will be, There is no man will be so angry at what I writ as they, for by their fruits you may know them; for every one that doth evil hateth the light, he is loath to be brought to trial by the light of God's word lest his deeds should be reproved or discovered, John 3.20.   

12 John Wickliff. But if upon trial it be found that Clergy men walk so contrary to the Rules and Commandments of Christ, which they ought to obey, and to imitate Christ and his Apostles in their preaching and living, then, as John Wickliff saith, may Kings and Lords Temporal, both lawfully, and meritoriously take away their Temporalities from them, which they abuse with such excess of riot: the Law of nature doth licence all such as have the government of Kingdoms, to correct the abuses of the Temporalities, which would be the chief of the ruin and destruction of their Kingdoms: Whether the Temporal Lords, or any other had endowed the Church with those Temporalities or not, it is lawful for them to take away the Temporalities so abused, as it were by way of Physic to withstand and put a stop to sins, saith the University, for so much as they are not endowed but with Conditions, the which Conditions are broken and the Title of the Gift lost, and they that gave the Alms or their Successors ought to correct the offences; for as in a just War it is lawful to take away the goods of the outward Enemies, so also it is lawful to take away the goods of the Clergy, being the inward Enemy by their evil Example, they not walking according to the Rules of Christ, for inward Enemies are more hurtful than outward, and it is said in the 12th Article, That there is no greater Heretic nor Antichrist than those Clerks which teach that it is lawful for Priests, now under the Law of Grace, to be endowed with Temporal Possessions, and if there be any Heretics, Apostates, or Blasphemers these Clerks be such.  
A Supplication to K. Hen. 8. If it were thought unmeet by the Apostles that they should leave the word of God and serve Tables, Acts 6.2. which yet was a work of mercy to serve the Poor, can any man be so ignorant as to think it meet and fit that the Prelates should leave the word of God to deal in Temporal matters, to keep Courts, to set Leases, and receive Rents, and keep books of Accounts, and Rent-Rols, & c.? the Apostles did no such things, therefore they cannot be the Successors of the Apostles. It was said in a Supplication to King Henry the eighth, about the year 1544. That the only infection and pestilent poison of the Prelates, is their great Lordships and Dominion which hath fashioned them with proud Countenances and worldly behaviour, more like Heathen Princes than Christ and his Apostles, and Christ said to his Apostles, the Princes of the Gentiles exercise Dominion, etc. but it shall not be so among you, Mat. 20.26. For Bishop's so love their worldly honour, that they will not preach the Truth for displeasing of men, lest they lose their great Possessions, Riches, and worldly Offices, which is the cause of their sins; Thus this pestilent poison of worldy riches being taken from them, the word of God shall flourish, faith shall be increased, and sin decreased, and true obedience shall be observed, with all humble obedience to your Majesty.   

13 It is lawful for the Clergy by their power to take away the Sacrament from the Laity customably offending: It is by the like reason lawful for the Secular power to take away the Temporalities from the Clergy, they offending customably in not performing the conditions for which the Temporalities were given, besides other offences, for, say they, the true and easiest way for directing the Clergy unto Conformity to the life of Christ and his Apostles, and most profitable for the Laity, the Church, is, that the Clergy should not be suffered to live contrary unto Christ's Institutions; to which I shall add, that the Clergy who make such a bussling about Conformity, are themselves the greatest, and most obstinate Non-conformists in the world, 
The Prelates are the greatest Non-conformists.  to the Gospel Commandments and Institution of Christ; for Christ hath not Instituted that any Gospel Minister should have any Temporalities or Tithes, nor to live in such glorious Pomp and State in the world, nor to have such Dignities, nor exercise such Jurisdictions, etc. Therefore it belongs to Christian Magistrates to take those Superfluities from them, which occasion their sinful revolt and disobedience to the Laws of Christ, for by the abundance of Temporalities (say they) the Worm, or Serpent of Pride is sprung up, whereupon unsatiable desire and lust is inflamed, and thereby proceedeth all kind of Gluttony and Lechery: but the Temporalities being taken away, every one of these sins will either utterly be taken away, or at the least diminished by the contrary virtue induced and brought in.  
The Prophecy of Hildegardis. This that is said of taking away the Temporalities from the Clergy seems to be prophesied of by Hildegardis the Virgin, which Prophecy was approved of in the Council of Trevers by many Bishops of France, Italy, and Almain, St. Bernard being there present, she spoke on this manner; The Kings, and other Rulers of the World, being stirred up by the just Judgement of God, shall set themselves against them and run upon them, saying; We will not have these men to rule over us with their rich Houses and great Possessions, and other worldly Riches, over which we are ordained to be Lords and Rulers; wherefore let us take away from them▪ that which they do not justly, but wrongfully possess, etc. for the Spirituality should not possess more than necessity doth require, that where there is more, it should be taken away▪ and given to the needy. This spoke that Virgin Prophetess, plainly foreshowing the taking away the Temporalities from the Clergy by the secular Power.   

14 Gregory. St. Gregory writ to the Emperor Mauritius when he persecuted him, I do believe (saith he) that you please God the better in so persecuting me which have been so evil a servant unto him. And Pope Leo 
Pope Leo.  submitted himself unto Lodovicus the Emperor, as in 2. quest. 7. If we have done any thing incompetently, or that we have not observed the upright path and way of Equity amongst Subjects, we will amend the same, either by your own judgement, or by the advice and judgement of those which you shall appoint for that purpose; for if we which ought to correct and punish other men's faults, do commit more grievous ourselves, we are not then the Disciples of the Truth, but (as with sorrow we speak it) we shall be above all others the Masters of Error. Thus much concerning the Arguments of the University of Prague.    
And to confirm the Writings and Opinion of John Wickliff, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, with the whole Congregation of the Masters, with one consent gave this Testimony of him, and said;  
The Testimony of the University of Oxford in behalf of John Wickliff.  
For the special good will and care which we bear unto John Wickliff, sometime Child of this University, and Professor of Divinity, moving and stirring our minds as his manners and conditions, required no less, with one mind voice and testimony we do witness, all his conditions and do throughout his whole life, to have been most sincere and commendable, whose honest manners and conditions, profoundness of Learning, and most redolent Renown and Fame, we desire the more earnestly to be notified and known unto all the Faithful, for that we understand the maturity and ripeness of his Conversation, his diligent Labours and Travels to tend to the praise of God, the help and safeguard of others, and the profit of the Church: Wherefore we— signify unto you by these Presents; That his Conversation from his youth upward unto the time of his death, was so praise worthy and honest, that never at any time was there any note or spot of suspicion noised of him, but in his Answering, Reading, Preaching, and Determining, he behaved himself laudably, and as a stout and valiant Champion of the Faith, vanquishing by the force of the Scriptures, all such who by their wilful beggary blasphemed and slandered Christ's Religion neither was this said Doctor Convict of any Heresy, God forbidden that our Prelates should have condemned a man of such honesty for a Heretic, who amongst all the rest of the University had written in Logic, Philosophy, Divinity, Morality and the Speculative Art without Peer, the knowledge of which all and singular things we do desire to testify and deliver forth, to the intent that the Fame and Renown of this said Doctor may be the more evident, and had in reputation amongst them unto whose hands these present Letters testimonial shall come. Here is to be seen that this University of Oxford did also maintain the truth of Doctor John Wickliffe's Articles, That Kings, Princes, and Lords Temporal may lawfully take away Temporalities and Tithes from the Clergy.  
In witness whereof we have caused our Letters Testimonial to be Sealed with our common Seal, Dated at Oxford in our Congregation-House the 5th day of October in the Year 1406.  
Edmond King of England. King Edmond of England about the Year 940. made a Law that every man should pay Tithes, for Church's Fees, and Alms Fees: Thus here you see that Tithes were then given as well for the relief of the Poor as the Church. He made a Law also, that every Bishop should of his own proper charge see that Churches were repaired.  
Bishop of Canterbury. About the same time the Bishop of Canterbury in a Letter to the Prelates and Clergy said, If it were, or could be so, that all the Riches of the World were laid before me, so that I were Emperor and had all things universally under my subjection, all these things would I gladly give, and offer myself willingly for the health of Souls. And thus he exhorted the Clergy to their duty, lest the Lord should say of them, The Shepherds fed themselves but did not feed my flock, they have reigned but not by me, they have made themselves Princes of my flock, and I knew it not, that is, he knew it not so as to approve of their do, But where is there a Prelate now that hath such a zeal for the good of Souls.  
King Edgar. King Edgar, in an Oration to the Clergy, about the year 959. What negligence, saith he, is in God's Service, I will speak with sorrow, they be Riotous in Banquetring, in Chambering and Drunkenness; And now, saith he, the Clerks houses are thought to be Stews of Harlots, Thus the Goods of Kings and Alms of Princes is misspent, have our Fathers spent their Treasury for this purpose? Have the King's liberalities in giving Lands and Possessions been for this intent, that Clerks Harlots should be decked with the same? And for riotous feasts, Hauks and Hounds, and other Toys to consume it? Soldiers cry out, the people grudge but ye regard not, etc.  
King Hen. 2d. Among other ancient Laws of England, in the reign of King Henry the second, this was one, That if any Clergy man did hold any Lay Fee in his hands, he should therefore do the King's service that belonged thereunto, as upon Juries, Assizes of Lands and Judgements, and that no Lands should be given to the Church, nor to any House of Religion without the King's Licence: And that the Peter-pences which was used to be gathered for the Pope, should be paid to the King, and that all the Possessions, Goods and Chattels of such as favoured the Pope or Thomas a Becket, to be Seized and Confiscate to the King: And that all such of the Clergy as were absent from their Charge, out of the Realm, and had Rents and Profits in the Land, and did not repair home in three months, their Rents and Goods to return to the King, etc. If it were lawful for the King then in the time of Popery to seize upon the Rents, Profits, and Possessions of the Pope, Cardinal and others, it is much more lawful now for our King and Nobles to cize upon such Goodss a●d Possessions as were given by Papists in the time of Popery, and are now wrongfully possessed and abusively used by others:  
King Edward 3. In a Parliament holden the twentieth year of the reign of King Edward the third; It was propounded that all Alien Monks should departed England, whose Live the King took into his hands. It was also concluded by the Parliament; That the Live of all others, Strangers and Cardinals during their lives, the profits should be brought into the King's hand. The Commons also denied to pay any payments to Cardinals in France, etc. besides the King took order by two of his Clergy (viz.) John Stocks, and John Norton, to take into their hands all the Temporalities of all the Deaneries, prebend's, Dignities and Benefices being then vacant in England and to answer the profits thereof unto the King.  
King William Rufus. King William Rufus took certain Lands and Possessions from Canterbury and disposed of them to secular uses.  
King Henry 4. In the eighth year of the reign of King Henry the fourth, it was petitioned to the Parliament, That the King might enjoy half the profits of every Parson's Benefice who was not resident thereon: But in the eleventh year of his reign the Commons put up a Bill unto the King to take the Temporal Lands from the Clegie men's hands or Possessions; in which Bill it was declared that the Temporalities disorderly wasted by men of the Clergy, might suffice to find to the King with maintenance 15. Earls, 1500. Knights. 6200. Esquires, and 100 Alms houses: To every Earl, 3000. Mark a year, to every Knight, 100 Mark and four plough lands, and to every Esquire 40 Mark a year and two plough lands, and to every Alms house, 100 Mark a year: which lands is now (not doubt) worth double, if not triple to what they were then: For I have credibly informed by a Yorkshire Esquire, That when his Majesty was restored to the Crown, one Bishopric, that is the Bishopric of Durham, If it had been set upon the rack rend, it was worth above fifty thousand pounds a year. This story above, you may read in Mr, Fox his Acts and monuments of the Church in the story of King Hen. 4.  
King Henry 8. It is there also to be seen in the History of King Hen. 8. That the King did enjoin every Vicar, Clerk, or Beneficed man that had one hundred pounds a year, that he should find a Scholar at the University, and he that had two hundred pounds a year should find two Scholars at the University: Also in his reign it was complained of by the Commons against the Prelates and Clergy for their cruel proceeding Ex Officio, And for the remedy it was enacted; That whosoever did, or speak any thing against either their usurped power or their Laws, Decrees, or Constitutions, which is not grounded upon the Holy Scripture, they should therefore stand in no danger, nor be impeached.  
King Richard 2. King Richard the second, propounded to John Wickliff, Whether the Kingdom of England might lawfully detain the Treasure of the Kingdom from the Pope, He demanded the Church goods under pain of Censure— Mr. Wickliff setting a part the Common Laws of England and the Civi● Law; It rests (saith he) to prove the affirmitive part by the Principles of Chists Law thus, Every natural body hath power given of God to resist against the contrary, and to preserve itself in due estate; inasmuch as Bodies without life are endued with such a kind of power, as hardness to resist those things that would break it, and coldness to withstand heat that would dissolve it, forasmuch then as the Kingdom of England, after the manner of phrase of Scripture ought to be one Body, of which the King is head, and the Commonalty are the members thereof. It seemeth the same Kingdom head and members, hath such power given to them of God, and so much the more apparent, by how much the same body is more precious unto God, adorned with virtue and knowledge; for so much then, as there is no power given of God unto any Creature for any end or purpose, but that he may lawfully use the same to that end and purpose. It followeth, That our Kingdom may lawfully keep back and detain their Treasure of Temporalities and Tithes, etc. for the defence of itself in what case soever necessity doth require the same.  
Secondly, the same is proved by the Law of the Gospel, for the Pope cannot challenge the Treasure of this Kingdom (no more can the Prelates challenge Temporalities or Tithes) but under the title of Alms, and consequently under the pretence of works of mercy, according to the rule of Charity. But in the case aforesaid the title of Alms ought utterly to cease; ergo, the right title of challenging the Treasure of this Kingdom ought to cease also in the presupposed necessity, and the Prelates and Clergy challenging Temporalities and Tithes ought to cease also by the same reason: Forasmuch as all Charity, hath its beginning of itself; it were no work of Charity, but of mere madness, to send away the Treasure of the Realm unto other Nations, whereby the Realm itself may fall into ruin, under the pretence of such a Charity: and is it not as much madness to suffer so many idle Drones to usurp the Kingdoms, the Churches, and the Poors goods, of temporalities and tithes, to spend on Coaches, and Horses, Hawks, Dogs, and Hounds? (I will not say Whores, Taverns, Cards and Dice;) Why should not such unfaithful Stewards give an account of their Stewardship?  
It appears also (saith he) by this, That Christ, the Head of the Church. whom all Prelates and Priests ought to follow, he lived by the Alms of devout women, as in Luke 8.2, 3. he hungered, and thirsted, was a stranger, and sustained many other miseries, not only in his members, but also in his own body; He was poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. 8.9. Wherefore, in the first endowing of the Church with Alms, whatsoever he were of the Clergy that had any temporal possessions, he had the same by way of Alms; as several Writings and Chronicles do witness: For, (saith he) the Temporal Lords have power to take away their Alms, when they see their Alms abused to riot and excess by some, and others, who are interested therein, suffer penury and want, by the Prelates and Clergy their unfaithfulness in their Stewardships.  
Carolus Magnus. Carolus Magnus, that famous French King, had decreed in a Council, that only the Canonical Books of Scripture should be read in Churches; and commanded the Bishops, that they should not suffer any other to be read, nor Preach themselves any thing that did not agree with the word of God. And besides, he ordered the goods given to the Church. to be disposed of so, That in wealthy places, two parts of the Church goods should be given to the poor, and the third part to the Clergy: and that in poorer places, there should be an equal division between the poor and the Clergy. The good Lord, if it be his good will and pleasure, put it into the hearts of all Christian Kings and Princes to do the like.  
Isidor. Mr. Fox saith, that Isidor hath these words, Let Temporal Kings know, that they must give an account to God for the Church, which they have at the hands of God to govern; and if so, than it lies as a duty incumbent upon them, so that to free themselves from the guilt of other men's sins, there is an absolute necessity, That seeing the Church goods are abused, and not disposed of as they ought to be, as it is proved above; Therefore Kings and Nobles may not only lawfully, but are bound in duty to God, to take care to have such abuses reform.  
Charles the sixth. Charles the sixth, the French King, made a Law, That the fruits and rents of Benefices, and other Pensions, and Bishop's goods, that departed from their charges, should be brought in to the King's use.  
King Philip. About the year 1303. King Philip of France summoned a Parliament, where all the Bishops were required within eight days after notice given, to appear, or else all their Temporal goods should be seized into the King's hand. By this it appears, That upon their disobedience the King might take their Temporalities from them, if he so pleased. In which Parliament it was declared by 
Sir Will. Negareta:  Sir William Negareta, in behalf of the King, That for his Oaths sake, that he made for defence of the Church, and because the King was the Patron of the Church; Therefore he was bound not only to defend the Church (observe this well) he was bound not only to defend the Church, but to call in the goods of the Church, which was wasted by the Pope and Prelates means: And four years after, the Lord Peter de Cugneriis, in a Parliament, 
Lord Peter de Cugneriis.  exhibited 65 Articles in the King's behalf, against the Bishops and Prelates of France, and the misdemeanours of them and their Officers and Courts.  
Mr. Fox. Such goods as were given to the Church by our Ancestors (saith Mr. Fox) was neither so given, nor so taken, as to serve the private use of Church men, but to serve the public use of the poor and needy; as is to be seen by the Canonical Institution of the Emperor Lodovicus Pius, set forth in the year 830. in these words; 
Lodovicus Pius.  The goods of the Church be the Vows and bequests of the faithful, to ransom such as be in captivity or prison, and the Patrimony to secure them with Hospitality that be needy, etc. Whereas now the Hospitality that is used, is to feast such as need not, such as are able to feast the Prelates again: and the poor and needy, if they get any thing, it is such scraps as they give to their Hounds and Spaniels.  
Prosper. To this purpose is the testimony of Prosper; Good men (saith he) took the goods of the Church, not as their own, but to distribute them, as bequeathed to the poor; For whatsoever (saith he) the Church hath, it hath in common with such as have nothing, etc.  
The Testimony of 54. of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia. There was four and fifty of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia, Confederate together, who in an Exhortation to Kings and Princes to stir them up to the Zeal of the Gospel; they said, That the Devil as he tempted Christ, by showing him all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory thereof (but did not prevail) But the Devil hath prevailed and deceived the Pope and all Prelates and Priest, with the Riches of the World and worldly power; and they stir up Kings and Princes to make War against us, not that the Christian faith should thereby be defended, but for fear their secret vices and heresies should be discovered: Whereby for reward they pretend that they have power by Prayers and Masses to deliver Souls out of Purgatory: Thus they become Merchants of Prayers and Masses for money, and every one that taketh rewards to Redeem Souls out of Purgatory, do therewithal cast their own Souls down to Hell, & they that give any thing to that end, do altogether lose their gift, and with such devilish subtleties as these, the Pope with all his Prelates and Priests, have deceived, spoiled and disinherited, Kings, Princes, Lords and Knights, and good Householders and many others, of their lawful Inheritances, because their Ancestors and Progenitors gave their Lands to Colleges, Monasteries and Churches, that they might make Memorials of them, and to sing Prayers and Masses for their Souls, that they might be redeemed out of Purgatory: and with such ill gotten goods the Bishops, and Prelates, and the rest of the Clergy are made so rich, that so long as they have such Goods and Lands, they will never teach you the true foundation of true Religion, which is against their holding or enjoying such temporal Estates. So that now, except our Prelates could prove that there is a Purgatory, and that for the Lands they hold, they both have done, and can deliver Souls out of Purgatory, what claim or title can they, lay to those Lands that were given upon that account, or what reason can they show why the King and Temporal Lords may not lawfully take their own again for the uses formerly named?  
Now therefore say they, Ye Nobles, Kings, Princes, Lords and all ye Commonalty rich and poor, if you have been a sleep, yet now awake, and behold the subtlety of the Devil, how he hath blinded the Prelates for Lucre sake, and take again that which is yours and not theirs; and they also receive Tithes, and say, that men are bound to give them, and yet cannot prove, that Christ, the Apostles or the seventy Disciples received any, but their Example Prelates will not follow: They say by Prayers and Masses, they can redeem souls out of Purgatory, and yet by all their Prayers and Masses, they cannot redeem a man out of an Earthly Prison   

Having hitherto shown the Opinion and Practice of twenty Kings, and of the Universities of Prague and Oxford, and of fifty four of the Nobles of Bohemia and Moravia; I shall now produce other Authors.  
Mr: Latimer. MR. Latimer, in a Letter to King Henry the eighth against the Bishops▪ who pretend to be guides and leaders of others (saith he) and yet will neither preach the Truth themselves as they are bound to do, nor suffer others that would do it, to whom is due that Woe pronounced, Mat. 23.13. for they will not only (saith he) debar the word of God from men, but also by their subtle Wileness the instruct, move, and provoke, in a manner all Kings in Christendom, to aid succour, and help them in their mischiefs, and especially in this your Realm as far as in them lieth, they blind the King's liege people with their Laws and Customs and Ceremonies, in stead of teaching them the word of God, Therefore he exhorteth his Majesty above all things to consider the life and proceed of Christ and his Apostles, and to compare these men's do with theirs, and always to have in his mind this golden rule, The Tree is known by his fruit, for by this you may truly know and discern who are the true follows ers of Christ and his Apostles, in preaching and living, and who are pretenders only, for by their fruits you may know them, whether they imitate Christ and his Apostles, in preaching, in poverty, and humility: Your Grace may consider what craft the Spiritualty, as they will be called, imagine to break and withstand the Acts made in your last Parliament against their Superfluities; Whhrefore they that so do, your Grace may know them not to be the followers of Christ, for Christ doth not promise true and faithful Preachers worldly promotion and dignity, but tribulation, John 16.33. for where the word of God is truly preached, there is persecution.  
Therefore pleaseth it your Grace to return to this golden rule, By their fruits you shall know them, for where you see persecution, there is the Gospel and there is the all Truth, and they that do persecute, are void of Grace, and without Truth, they will not abide the light, because their deeds are evil, John 3.20. the riches of the world hath blinded the eyes of their hearts, that they see not the clear light of the Scripture, though they babble of it never so much: Wherefore good King (saith he) seeing God hath sent his servants, true Ministers and Preachers of his word, set not these worldly men make your Grace believe that their preaching will cause Insurrection, Heresy or Mischief, as they imagine in their mad brains, lest God be avenged upon you and your Realm, as he hath ever been upon them who hath withstood his word: My purpose is (saith he) for the love I have to God and the true allegiance ●ow unto your Grace, not to hid my Talon, but to chaffer with it that it may increase to the pleasure of God, to exhort your Grace to avoid and beware of those mischievous Flatterers, and their abominable ways and Counsels; for there are some, that for fear of losing their worldly worship & honour, will not be convinced to leave their opinion: But let these men remember, that Paul as well as they, both thought and called Truth Heresy, before his Conversion, but after, he spent his strength and life to defend that which before he persecuted, and I am sure (saith he) Paul before his Conversion, was as holy and perfect in the outward works of the Law, as any of these Bishops are now: Wherefore, Gracious King, take heed of them, and do nothing pleasing in your own sight without God's word; remember yourself, and pity your own Soul, and think that the day is even at hand, when you shall give an account of your Office; at which day, that you may stand steadfast, and have your Quietus est, Sealed with the blood of Christ, is my daily prayer to him that suffered death for our sins, to whom be all honour and praise for ever, Amen. Thus much of Mr. Latimer his Letter to King Hen. 8.  
Aeneas' Silvius. Aeneas' Silvius, before he was Pope, in a Letter to the Rector of the University of Collen, he said, To a true Christian indeed nothing ought to be more desired, than the sincerity and pureness of Faith given us of Christ be kept of all men immaculate, and if at any time, any thing be attempted against the true Doctrine of the Gospel, the people ought with one consent to provide lawful remedy and every man to bring with him some water to quench the general fire; neither must we fear (saith he) how we be hated or envied so we bring the truth with us, we must resist every man to his face, whether he be Paul or Peter, if he walk not directly to the rule of the Gospel— This is part of Aeneas his Letter, which I think, with Mr. Latimer's Letter above, is sufficient to justify my Innocency in what I have done in collecting of so many reverend Authors, to show what their judgement and practice hath been according to the word of God, though it be not according to the practice of our Prelates now.  
Julian Palmer. As all good works are wonderful, saith Julian Palmer, so this in particular, That God hath in all ages stirred up some to bear witness to the Truth against those Usurpers who have, and do rob and spoil both Kings and Kingdoms, by unjust detaining Lands and Possessions, etc. in their hands, to which they have no right; and do buy false Glosses, Excommunications, Imprisonments, Banishments, Scourging, Pilloring, Persecuting by open violence and secret practices abuse the simple sheep of Christ, that do endeavour to serve God, and to discover their false usurped ways, rather than they will departed with their dishonest gain, and have their Kitchen cooled, their Coffers emptied, or their Rents and Revenues abated.  
The Protestant Church at Paris. The fourth of September 1558. Three or four hundred Christians being assembled in Paris in France, to worship God in a private meeting, they were seized upon, and some escaped and some were taken and imprisoned; Who, wrote a Letter to the King, declaring out of divers Histories, what afflictions and calamities from time to time had befallen the Enemies and hinderers of God's worship, for their resisting the free passage of the Gospel: Showing also, that when the King did by his Edict hinder the free worship and service of God, then did God send War and other Calamities upon him and his Kingdom: and when he ceased the execution of such Edicts, than he prospered according to his own desires, as long as the true worship of God and his Ordinances took place. And in the Primative Church, while Prelates and Ministers were of small Wealth, and sought not their own profit, but the glory of God and his Ordinances, so long the Truth prospered and prevailed; but since the Pope and Prelates began to be Prince like, and to usurp Dominion over the Emperor and Kings, they have turned the Scripture from the true sense, and have attributed the service to themselves, which we owe unto God, framing a worship according to their own fancy, for their private advantage to maintain their usurped Dignities, Jurisdictions and Possessions: Wherefore your Majaesty may with good and safe Conscience, seize upon all their Temporalities and Benefices, and employ them to to their right use, which is, for your own affairs, for the safety of the Kingdom, and the easement of your poor Subjects, which alone bear the burden, and for the relief of the poor, whereas now there is an infinite number in your Kingdom which occupy the greatest and chiefest benefices which never deserved any part of them: And consider, that always those Emperors and Kings have the best prospered, that embraced the true Christian Faith, for the King's Throne is established in Righteousness, Prov. 16.20. & 28.  
Anne du Burg. Joys du Farr. The true and only way, Sir, (say they) to remedy and redress these grievances is, that you call a general Council in your Kingdom, yourself being the chief, in which, every thing tending to the worship and service of God may be tried by the word of God, in which Council men of parts and faithfulness to God should be heard for God, and those that enjoy such Dignities and Possessions, be heard how they can prove their holding them by the Scripture to be lawful, or else to part with them: And your Majesty, or some whom you may appoint, not corrupted, nor interested to either party, but indifferunt, may report to your Majesty the true sense of the Scripture without partiality, and after, according to the example of David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah, you may remove out of the Church all Idolatry, Superstition, Will-worship and humane Inventions, which is contrary to holy Scripture, for God will not own any Plant in his Church that is not of his own planting: Here was good Council if it had taken place, but mark what followed; Anne du Burg, a Councillor at Law, Joys du Farr, a Councillor also, who did solicit and intercede in the behalf of those imprisoned Christians, were both apprehended and cast into prison; the King in a rage threatening du Burg, that he with his own eyes would see him burnt, but God prevented him, for the same day that he so threatened, the King in his just and breaking their Spears, the King received his Death's wound, and it was reported, that the King said he was stricken for casting the poor Christians wrongfully in prison, This was Henry the second French King— Origen saith, 
Origen.  That Princes will not believe that others have fallen by such means until they fall themselves.  
And they said further, If the Emperor Antonius, a Pagan and an Idolater, seeing himself wrapped with Wars, ceased the Persecution which was against the Christians, and determined to hear their Causes and Reasons, how much more ought you that bear the name of most Chistian King, to be careful and diligent to cease the Persecution against poor Christians, for until you have heard and lawfully debated our Reasons taken out of Scripture, how can your Majesty judge us worthy of such punishments, for while we are governed by the word of God neither Fire nor Sword, nor the cruelest torments can make us afraid.  

Observe these Expressions.  Christian's may learn good Instructions from some of the heathen; I will name some Christianlike expressions of this Pagan Antonius, he wrote twelve Books, in the first Book he said. Let it be thy incessant care as a Roman, as a man, to perform whatsoever it is that thou art about with true and unfeigned gravity, natural affection, freedom and justice, and go about every action as thy last action, free from all vanity, all passionate and wilful aberration from reason, and from all Hypocrisy and self-love: And in another place he saith; Whatsoever thou dost affect, whatsoever thou dost project so do, & so project all as one, who for aught thou knowest may at this present depart out of this Life: And as for Death, If there be any Gods, it is not grievous thing to leave the Society of Men, the Gods will do thee no hurt; and if there be no Gods to take care of the world, why should I desire to live in a world void of Gods, and all divine Providence.  
Again (saith he) do nothing contrary to the Community, nor without due examination, nor with reluctancy: Let thy God that is in thee, rule over thee, and find by thee that he hath to do with a man, a sociable man, a Roman, one that hath ordered his life, as expecting nothing but the Trumpet sounding a Retreat out out of this life with all readiness: Again (saith he) without relation unto God, thou shalt never perform aright any thing humane, nor any thing divine without some respect to things humane.  
Marcus Aurelius Antonius. If any body (saith he) shall reprove me and make it uppear unto me, that in any action or opinion of mine I do err, I will gladly retract, for it is the Truth that I seek after, by which I am sure never any man was hurt, and as sure that he is hurt that continues in any error of ignorance whatsoever; one thing there is and that only that is worth our while in this world and aught by us much to be esteemed, and that is according to Righteousness meekly and and lovingly to converse with false and unrighteous men.— Thy life is almost at an end, so live henceforth as indifferent to the world and all worldly objects, let them behold and see a man that is a man indeed, living according to the true nature of a man, and if they cannot bear with me, let them kill me, for better it were to die then to live as they would have me, for all worldly things are but as the smoke that vanisheth away, or indeed mere nothing— Thus much of Marcus Aurelius Antonius his Christianlike experssions. 
Mr. Frith.   
Paulinus, and his Deacon. Mr. John Frith a Martyr, in his answer to the Preface of Mr. Moor's Book page 116. saith, That before the Church was endowed with honours, there was none would be a Bishop but such as had a love and zeal to the Flock, that he could be content to shed his blood for them, for in the Primitive Church the first thirty Bishops of Rome, there was twenty of them or more that suffered Martyrdom, but in Constantine's time, and since that, they enjoyed peace, and the Church was endowed with temporal possessions, They (saith Mr. Frith) that were worst both in learning and in their lives laboured most for such places, for such as were virtuous would not entangle themselves with the vain Pride of this world.  

Amonius cut of his own Ear rather than be a Bishop.  It is recorded in Histories of Paulinus the first Bishop of York, and James his Deacon, that they were so void of care for worldly things, and so free from Covetousness, that they refused possessions being proffered unto them.  
Also about the year 383. Ammonius a holy Monk being at Rome, he was so little taken with their great Pomp, and outward show of Holiness, that being solicited to take a Bishopric, he fled out secretly and cut off his own Ear, that he might by wanting a member, have a Canonical Impediment, not to be a Bishop— This Ammonius came forth of the Desert of Mount Nitria.  

Aidanus gave his horse to a Beggar.  About the year 638. Oswald King of Northumberland, sent into Scotland for a Bishop named Adanus, a Learned and pious man, and about the year 646. Oswie, brother and successor of Oswald, because the Bishop should go no longer on foot, as he was accustomed to do, the King gave him a Horse, bridle, saddle, and trappings. But not long after, the Bishop riding abroad, and meeting a poor man, who craved the Bishop's charity, and he having nothing else to give, lighted off his horse, and gave him to the Beggar, and went again on foot himself, as he was accustomed to do. These examples do inform us, what manner of persons Bishops were in those days, the first 600 years after Christ, in poverty and humility imitating Christ and his Apostles: but Bishops in these latter days do rather imitate Lucifer for Pride, Achan and Gehazi for Covetousness, and Balaam, who loved the wages of iniquity, more like than followers of Christ and his Apostles in Patience, Poverty, and Humility: By their fruits you may know them, saith our Saviour.  
Mr. Elmer. Mr. Elmer, in his Harbour for faithful Subjects, Come off, you Bishops, saith he; away with your superfluities; yield up your Thousands, be content with hundreds, as they are in other Reformed Churches, where there be as great Learned men as you are; Let your portion be Priestlike, and not Princelike; and let the Queen have the rest of your Temporalities to maintain Wars, and build Schools, that every Parish may have a preaching Minister, which will never be, except your Lands be bestowed upon many, which now doth but feed and fat one. When the lame man asked an Alms as Peter and John went into the Temple, Peter answered, Silver and Gold have I none, and Paul was so far from having a Lordship, that the labour of his own hands ministered to his necessity. If the Apostles of Christ had no temporal possessions, why should our Prelates have so great?  
Erasmus. Of the unfaithfulness of Prelates, Erasmus in Epist. Apologetica, maketh mention of a Noble man, who purposed to see Jerusalem before his death; wherefore he left his wife and family, his Lands and Lordships in trust with an Archbishop to take care of them; but it so happened, the Nobleman died in his journey, whereof, when the Archbishop knew, he seized into his hands all the Noble man's Lordships, Castles, and Possessions; and not therewith content, he laid siege to a Fort into which the Widow was fled for refuge, where she with her child was slain; which story was not so long before Erasmus' time, but that there were Nephews of that Noble man alive, to testify the truth. And thus have the Prelates done; as touching their Temporalities, they have been entrusted with them as Stewards for the Church of Believers, for those only that believe, are the Church, and for the poor, and they have converted, or rather perverted all to their own use, and to their abuse of all the temporal possessions.  
Jasper Bruschio. Jasper Bruschio, in Chronologia Monasteriorum Germany, maketh mention of a Monastery of Cisterian Monks in the borders of Suevia, about the year 1130. which Monastery was endowed with large possessions and great privileges by the Founders, upon this Condition, that they should receive with free Hospitality, any strangers either horse or foot for one night's lodging, but this hospitality did not long continue, through the subtlety of one Monk, who took upon him to play the Devil's part, rattling in chains, and making a fearful noise where the strangers lay to fright them, by reason whereof no traveller durst there abide. At length (as God would have it) one of the Earls of the house of Montfort, a Benefactor to the same Abbey was there lodged, in the Night the Monk did counterfeit to play the Devils part as before, thundering, bouncing on boards, and rattling chains, but after after a while the Earl took heart, and running for his sword, laid about him, and followed the noise: so that the Monk that transformed himself into a Devil in jest, was slain in good earnest.  
Clement. John Segovius in the Council of Basil, declared, that it was the saying of Clement, That he that liveth rebelliously neglecting to do good, he is rather a member of the Devil, than of Christ, and rather an Infidel than a true believer; which saying he applied against Pope Eugenius. Now let all wise and impartial men judge, whether the Prelates do not live in open Rebellion against Christ himself, and against Christ in his members; for they neither obey the words of Christ, who forbids Church Officers, Lordship and Dominion, saying to his Apostles, It shall not be so among you, Mat. 22.25, 26. Neither will they suffer the Servants of Christ to worship him according to his own holy Institutions, but as far as in them lieth, by Censures and Excommunications, by imprisonment and banishment, etc. 
John Segovius.  they would compel men to worship God in Ceremonial ways of their own devising, setting their Thresholds by God's Threshold, and their Posts by God's Posts, and so defile the service of God, as in Ezek. 43.7, 8. in equalling their own Canons and Institutions with the Canons and Institutions of the Scriptures, or rather above them; so that by Clement, and John Segovius Testimony, they by so doing are rather members of the Devil than of Christ, and rather Infidels than true Believers, and if not Believers, than no members of the Church, and so have no interest in the Temporalities and Tithes that was given to the Church and for the relief of the Poor.  
Cardinal Aralatenses. Isidor, in the book of the Counsels, declareth that in an Epistle of Clement the successor of St. Peter, that he applied the saying of Peter unto himself, which was this; If thou be occupied in worldly cares, thou shalt both deceive thyself, and those that hear thee; for so thou canst not distribute those things which pertain unto Salvation; and it is to be feared, that our Prelate's mind the things of this world more than the things of God: For Cardinal Aralatenses said in the Council of Bassil, at this time (saith he) the more is the pity, it is hard to find a Prelate in the world which doth not prefer his Temporalities before his Spiritualities, with the love of which they are so drawn, that they study more to please Princes, than to please God, and confess God in corners, but Princes openly; and upon this account it was that John Wickliff and John Huss said, that Kings and Princes and Lords Temporal are bound under the pain of Damnation, to take away the Temporalities from the Prelates, to free themselves from the guilt of Prelate's sins, that they fall not in the same condition with them.  
For it is most manifest, that Prelate's act against the light of their own Censciences; as Stephen Gardiner the Bishop of Winchester upon his death bed; the Bishop of Chichester came to him and began to comfort him with the promises of free Institution in the blood of Christ; which the Bishop of Winchester hearing said, What, my Lord, will you open that gap now, then farewel altogether, to me, and to such other in my case you may speak of it, but if you open that window unto the People, then farewel altogether. Thus it serves to maintain their dignities by keeping the People in a blind Ceremonial way of Superstitious worship, they had rather all the People should be damned in Ignorance, than to make the Truth of the Gospel known unto them.  
The Bishop of Burden and John Segonius both, in the Council Bassil said, That the Pope's greatest tirle is to be Servant to God's Servant,, and so of all other Prelates, and not to be Lords over God's heritage. 2 Pet. 5, 3. It shall not be so amongst you, Matth. 20.26. for Christ came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and so the Servant is not above his Lord, it is enough that the Servant be as his Lord, and that is, to have no Temporalities, unless they will declaim Christ's service, for as Bernard said to Pope Eugenius, they cannot have both, Matth. 10.25.  
Bernard to Eugenius. St. Bernard declared in his second Book to Pope Eugenius that he could not challenge any secular Dominion by right of Succession to Peter, but be it so, that you challenge it by some other way or means, by right of your Title Apostolical, you cannot challenge it, neither can Prelates as pretending to be the Apostles Successors, for how (saith he) could Peter give that to you which he had not himself: Silver and Gold (saith he) have I none, but such as I have I give thee: that which he had saith Bernard was care over the Church, but he did not give you Lordship and Rule over God's Heritage, but behaving yourself as example to the Flock; and that these words were spoken not only in humility but in verity, mark what Christ saith; The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Dominion, but it shall not be so among you: here Lordship and Dominion is forbidden to the Apostles, and darest thou usurp the same? If thou wilt be a Lord thou shalt lose thy Apostleship, or if thou wilt be an Apostle thou shalt lose thy Lordship; for truly thou shalt departed one of them; if thou wilt have both, then think thyself to be one of those that God complains of, They have reigned but not by me, they are become Princes and I know it not, Hos. 8.4. Lordship and Rule is forbidden, Ministration and Service is commanded.  
Chrysostom. Chrysostom, in Opere Imperfecto, saith that a true Preacher ought not to swerve from the word of God to the right hand or to the left, for they that do either add or diminish, do endeavour to be wiser than Christ, as if Christ had not in his word laid down sufficient rules both for the matter and the manner of his own worship how he will be worshipped: Christ saith his sheep hear his voice, and a Stranger they will not follow, but flee from him, for they know not the voice of a Stranger, John 10.4, 5. Now our Prelates do not keep close to the word of God as Chysostom saith, but teach us to worship God by Ceremonies of Surplices, Cross, Crouching and kneeling sometimes, and by standing up other while, and the like, which is not the voice of Christ, that the sheep of Christ do know, but the voice of Strangers which the sheep of Christ know not, and therefore they flee from them: besides to require the Servants of Christ to swear their Canonical obedience to such things, it is not the voice of Christ, but the voice of Strangers to require the same, and those that follow them cannot thereby prove themselves to be the sheep of Christ, but rather the contrary, for the sheep of Christ do flee from Strangers.  
Polecronicon. It is recorded by Polecronicon lib. 5. chap. 10. that about the year 610. John Patriach of Alexandria, he was so merciful to the Poor and Needy, that he counted them his Masters, and himself their Servant and Steward, 
Patriarch of Alexandria.  in distributing the Church goods unto them; he was wont twice a week to sit at his door all the day long, to take up matters and make Peace and Unity where there was variances, nnd waiting all one day and no body came, he lamented, that all that day he had done no good.  
Pope Gregory his order to divide Church goods in 4 parts. About the year 600. Austin the Monk, Bishop of Canterbury, sent to Pope Gregory, to know how the Gifts and Oblations given to the Church ought to be divided; unto which Gregory answered, That the manner of the Sea Apostolical, was to warn and charge all such as were Ordained Bishops, that of all their Stipends, or what was given to the Church, to divide it into four parts; one part to the Bishop for Hospitality, another to the Clergy, and another to the Poor, and the fourth part for the repairing of Churches: You must, saith Gregory, observe this Institution which was practised by the first Fathers of the Primitive Church, among whom there was not one that counted any thing his own of all that he did possess. But can there be one Bishop now found in all the world that doth so, but what once they get possession of, they make all their own, right or wrong: by this primitive Institution, as Gregory says, it appears that our Prelates have broken the Condition for which goods were given to the Church, and therefore our King and Nobles may justly take them again.  
Cuthbert Bishop of Canterbury. Also, about the year 747. Cuthbert Bishop of Canterbury ordered that once a year every Bishop should visit all the Parishes in his Diocese, and that Priests should not have the disposing of Secular matters, and that Alms should not be neglected, though at that time they were Apostatised from the primitive Principles, there still remaining some tinctures and smattering of the primitive Institution concerning the Alms of the poor out of the Church goods, that it was not altogether neglected and forgotten as it is now.  
For now, as Peter Blesensis Archdeacon of Bath, said in his Treatise dedicated to the Bishop of Worcester, of the Institution of a Bishop, about the year 1160. That certain Bishops abusive, lie call the Liberality and Alms of Kings, etc. bestowed on them, Baronyes and Royalties, and themselves Barons, it being an action of most shameful servitude, the Lord may justly say of them, They have reigned but not by me, Hos. 8.4. but thou must know, thou hast taken upon thee the Office of a Shepherd, and not of a Baron; Let another dispatch thy temporal affairs; for the mind consecrated to divine service ought to be free from worldly employment: All the care of Prelates is to increase their Rents, but the voice of Christ to Bishops is, If thou love me, feed my sheep; not if thou love me, till thy Land, nor increase thy Rents, and build high houses: no, thou art set over the Souls of men, and not over their Bodies as a Baron or Temporal Lord, therefore thou mist not make thyself a Lord over them but a Servant.  
Angelo Cararo. Angelo Cararo, speaking to the Pope and Prelates, saith it is but reasonable that Princes should employ their Authority to make them leave that base and vile Avarice that is among them, which is displeasing to the whole world: but unless they go about it roundly in express terms, laying aside all Civility, it will be difficult to bring it about; he saith that the affairs of the Chamber of Rome is such a Gulf, that it swallows up all one hath, and whence nothing can be redeemed no more than out of Hell. This Angelo Cararo was a Venetian and had been at Rome, his Book was printed 5 or 6 years ago.  
Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury, about the year 1231. complained to the Pope, That Beneficed men within Orders had many Benefices joined with Cure of Souls, and that they also took example of Bishops, and did intermeddle with secular matters: It may seem strange that in time of Popery complaint should be made to the Pope against the Clergy for holding Plurality of Benefices, and now men can swallow them down without straining at such Camels, without check of conscience, yea, in some places a Bishopric is not thought sufficient without a Commendum of some Parsonage of five or six hundred pounds a year joined to it; and thus the goods of the Church and poor are wasted.  
Simon Fish. In a Book Entitled The supplication of Beggars, written by Simon Fish, and presented to King Hen. 8. therein it was declared, that Purgatory is a thing invented by the Covetous Clergy, only to translate the Lands and Temporal Estates of Kings, Princes, Lords, Knights, Esquires, &c, into their own hands, for praying for them to deliver their souls out of Purgatory, for what man is there in the world that is once deluded to believe that there is a Purgatory, and to believe that the Masses and Prayers of the Prelates and Clergy can deliver them out of that burning fire; but that, when he is dying, and can hold his Estate no longer, that will not give one half, or a great part thereof unto these Merchants of men's souls, rather than lie burning in these tormenting flames for some thousands of years after death, as the Prelates make them to believe they must; and by this way of Delusion, the Prelates have gotten the best Lordships into their hands, to the value of well nigh half the Kingdom? Why then should not the King, Princes, and Lords, etc. take again that which is their own, which their Predecessors have been so cheated out of, and the conditions failing for which they were given. And besides, their Doctrine of Justification by works, made others to give Lands for the relief of the poor, thinking thereby to be Justified, which Lands were delivered into the Bishops and Prelates hands, in trust as stewards for the poor, supposing they would be faithful stewards in distributing thereof; the which Lands the Prelates have converted to their own use, and pretend a title thereunto, but it is an usurped title: But what remedy is there to relieve us, your poor, blind, sick, lame, and diseased Beadsmen? to make more Hospitals? Nay truly, the more the worse; for the fat of the whole Foundation hangeth on the Prelates and Clergies beards; for divers of your Predecessors and Nobles have given Lands, to have a certain sum of Money given yearly to the poor, whereof, for the antiquity of the time the conditions are forgotten, so that they give not one penny; they likewise gave them to have certain Masses said for them daily, whereof they say never a one. If the Abbots of Westminster should sing every day as many Masses as they are bound to do by the Founders, a thousand Monks were too few: Wherefore, if your Grace will build a sure Hospital, never to fail to relieve your poor Beadsmen, then take from them all these things: this, with much more to this purpose, was in that Supplication.  
Pope Innocent. Pope Innocent 4th required that all Beneficed men in England which were resident, should pay to the Pope a third part of their goods or Profits, and non-resident the one half, for three years together. And it is most certain, that our King and Nobles within his Majesty's Dominions, have a thousand times more right to receive these profits, than either Pope or Prelate; for Popes and Prelates are Usurpers, their Predecessors having possessed themselves thereof by deceitful Delusion; therefore our King and Nobles may justly require their own Temporalities again, which their Predecessors were so deluded of, the Prelates having been such unfaithful Stewards, it is but just that the King, Princes, and Lords do require them to give account of their Stewardship, that they may be no longer Stewards.  
The testimony of 21 Bishops, 8 Arch-deacons, and 17 Doctors. In the Year 1537. or thereabout, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, and Edmond Bishop of York and to the number of one and twenty Bishops, and eight Arch-deacons, and seventeen Doctors of Divinity, and of the Common and Civil Law, they did all assert, and sign with their hands to King Hen. the 8th. the which was ratified by the Statute of the 32. of Hen. 8. That there is not in the New Testament any mention made of the Calling, Jurisdiction, Lordliness, or secular employment of Lord Bishops: But the New Testament speaks only of Deacons, and of Ministers, alias Priests or Bishops; and of these two only, that is, Priests or Ministers, and Deacons, the Scripture makes express mention: And that Christ did never institute any distinction or difference, or pre-eminence of power, order, or Jurisdiction among the Apostles themselves, but that they were all equal in power, authority, and jurisdiction; and that there hath been any difference since, it is by the invention of men, and not by the institution of Jesus Christ; and therefore no Bishop by the Law of God may take upon him any Jurisdiction in secular Courts; for God did constitute Kings to defend the Faith of Christ, and true Religion, and to cause Bishops or Ministers to execute their Pastoral office truly and faithfully, or for neglect thereof, to put others in their room and place, and not to suffer the Clergy to meddle in secular affairs, for the Kingdom of Christ is a spiritual, and not a carnal Kingdom; as Christ said, No man can serve two masters▪ so I say, No man can faithfully discharge his Ministerial office in Christ's Kingdom, which is his Church, if he be entangled in secular affairs in the worldly Kingdom. You cannot serve God and Mammon, Mat. 6.27.  
Mr Elmer. Mr. Elmer, in his harborough for faithful Subjects, Printed at Strasburg, writes thus on the 12 of Luke, Who made me a Judge, etc. As if Christ should say, It belongs not to my office to determine in matters of policy, but to the Civil Magistrate: And if it did not belong to Christ, how dare Prelates take it upon them to do it? for if it had been within the compass of Christ's Function, he could not in conscience have refused it, to set them at one which were at strife; if he might do it, and would not, he lacked Charity, and did not his duty, which were blasphemy to say of Christ; and if it belonged not to him, neither did it belong to his Apostles, nor their successors. Had he not as large a Commission as he gave? His Kingdom is not of this world; therefore Bishops by his example cannot give themselves so large a scope in temporal matters; therefore by their fruits you may know them, whether they have their Commission from Christ, or, I had like to have said, from Antichrist? for, saith he, if these two offices, Ecclesiastical and Civil, be jumbled together in one Function, there can be no quiet, nor well-ordered Commonwealth.  
Richard Armacanus. Richard Armacanus, about the year 1350. in the questionibus Armenorum, book 11. chap. 1. saith, that neither the Dominion nor Ministry of temporal things, belongeth to Ecclesiastical Dignity, but rather diminisheth it; for Christ prohibited the Apostles of temporal Dominion, saying, It shall not be so among you. And again, Possess neither gold nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, neither shoes, nor staves, Math. 10.9, 10. If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all that thou hast and give to the poor: He saith in chap. 2. that the states and degree of Patriarch, Primate, Archbishop, Bishop, etc. were invented by men, and not instituted by Christ, nor his Apostles, and that no Prelate of the Church, how great soever, hath any greater degree of the power of order, than a simple Priest. But how do Prelates observe Christ's rule, who commanded that they should possess neither gold nor silver, and as if they would strive to do as contrary as they can devise, they possess thousands of gold and silver, coaches and horses, and what not: Is it not high time therefore for Kings and Nobles to take these temporalities from them, which they thus abuse, as if they would set Christ at defiance, and bid him command what he will, they will do what they will; do not their actions tend to this end? the good Lord direct the King, Princes, and Lords, etc. that by connivance they partake not with the Prelates in these sins, lest they, which God forbidden, should partake with them in their punishments.  
Cyprian. Cyprian, in his fourth Book Epist. 4. saith, Our Lord Christ observed the will of his Father, but we, speaking of Prelates, observe not the will of the Lord, as appears above, having all our minds set upon Lucre and Possessions, given to pride, full of Emulation and Dissension, void of Simplicity and faithful dealing, renouncing the world only in word, but nothing in Deed, every one pleasing himself, and displeasing all others.  
John Huss. John Huss, in the Council of Constance did affirm that the Clergy ought to have no temporal possessions, and that Temporal Lords may justly, without any offence take them away from the Clergy, and that Kings and Nobles ought to compel the Clergy to observe and keep the Law and Rules of Christ: He also saith, that Tithes and Oblations given to the Church are public and common Alms, and that the Clergy, living wickedly, aught to be reproved by the Laity, by taking away their Tithes and other Temporal Profits from them, and give them to others, etc.  
Mr. Tindal. Mr. tindal, in his Book of Obedience of a Christian, page 114, 115. saith, That the Sword is put into the King's hand to execute vengeance upon all evil doers; But now saith he, the Bishops minister the Temporal Sword, and the Office of Preaching they lay aside, and will neither preach themselves, nor suffer others that would to preach, but slay them with the temporal sword; and as none, (saith he) can preach Christ, except they preach against Antichrist; and as none can heal a disease, unless he begin at the root, so canst thou not preach against any mischief, except thou begin at the Bishops. And in page 124. he saith, Those that are sworn to be true to the Pope, Cardinals, and Bishops, it is as if they should swear to be false to Christ, to the King and to the Realm; for such Prelates that will revenge themselves of men for speaking the truth, and for every trifle, they are not fit to preach the patience of Christ.  
Henry Stalbridge To the same purpose writeth Henry Stalbridge in his Exhortative Epistle to his dear Countrymen of England, he saith, that what blood hath been shed between Emperor and Emperor, Kingdom and Kingdom, Constantinople, Almain, England France, Italy and Spain, who seethe not that the pride of bloody Bishops, is the ground and original foundation of all Controversies, Schisms, Variances and Wars between Realm and Realm; see the fift and sixth part of the Homily of Whitsunday. And to confirm the truth of this, consider whether the carriage and practice of Prelates, and their Doctrines, such as Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Gloucester, who in one Sermon at White-Hall before his Majesty delivered five points of flat Popery, and did follow many Popish practices. And at another time, in the year 1636. he said, that the Church of Rome, and our Church are both as one, for we, said he, (and he said not much amiss) have both the same Hierarchy and Government, the same Liturgy, Holidays, Fasts, Ceremonies, Sacraments, etc. so as those who affirm that Papists are damned, do but through the sides of the Church of Rome, give a deadly blow to the Church of England, and deny that we are saved; with more the like. And also Bishop Laud's silencing and suspending of Ministers, and sending a new book of Common Prayer differing from ours, into Scotland: consider whether these, and the like, were not the cause of our late unhappy Wars in England.  
Bernard. Bernard, as touching Bishops having Conusance in their Courts of Tithes, etc. writes thus, For Tithes, Testaments, Administrations, Servitude, Legitimations, and such like, saith he to Pope Eugenius, you went beyond your bounds, when you restrained them to your Courts, and without Caesar, made Laws for things that did belong to Caesar; for the Goods, Lands, Live, Estates of Laymen, and Clerks also, are Caesar's Charge, and not yours nor the Prelates. My Kingdom, saith Christ, is not of this world; If then, the Pope, Prelates, and Priests, will be the servants of Christ, saith Ambrose, they must not challenge any worldly Kingdom, 
Ambrose.  the servant is not above his Master, and if the Master deny it, the servant may not affirm it and usurp it. Soldiers of Christ must not entangle themselves with the affairs of this world, much less to make themselves Lords and Judges of earthly matters.  
William Ocham. William Ocham, a famous Schoolman, writ a book about the year 1330. which was printed in London, in which he saith, that Clergy men are liable to pay tribute unto Princes, and that Princes may take away their Lands and Possessions when they abuse them to Luxury, Pomp, and other private uses, and they may employ them for the defence and peace of the Realm: And after he adds, That all the Revenue of Clergy men, but that which is sufficient to provide them Food and Raiment, with which they ought to be content, as Paul saith; 1 Tim. 6.8. Having Food and Raiment, let us be therewith content, and the rest ought to be spent in pious uses, and in feeding the poor, which if they be not employed in this sort, Kings ought to take care of them to set some to see it done.  
William Prynne. In the second part of Mr. William Prynne's book of the Antipathy of the English Lord Prelates, both the Regal Monarchy, and Civil Unity, page 311, he saith, that the endowing of the Prelates with great temporal Revenues, was the very bane and poison of Religion, and one principal cause of Bishop's Rebellions, Treasons and Exorbitances he had ; and therefore they may both with good Conscience and reason, be subtracted from them, and put to better uses, and they like other Ministers, be confined to one competent living with Cure, there constantly to reside and instruct the People like Bishops in the Primitive Church; for so long as our Lordly Prelates continue, there will not only be a possibility, but a probability of bringing in Popery and the Pope again amongst us since their Lordly Hierarchy is supported by Popish Doctrine, Canons, Ceremonies, Liturgy, 
Godfrey Goodman.  Holy days, etc. as Godfrey Goodman Bishop of Gloucester said a little above, which they are engaged to maintain to preserve their tottering Thrones from ruin.  
John Salisbury. John Salisbury, our Country man, flourished about the year of Christ 1140. de nugis Curialium, lib. 8. cap. 17, & 23. writ thus of the pride and sedition of the Bishops: Thou mayst admire to see the various Household stuff, and Riches, as they say of Croesus, amongst them that preach poor Christ, they live of the Gospel without preaching the Gospel, and it is well if they live only so, as they do not also riot, they so gape after gain, that they contem the things of Jesus Christ, and are neither worthy the honour nor name either of Pastor or Hireling; they do that which makes them to be feared of all, and to be beloved of none; they preach Peace, yet make Division; they make a show, and counterfeit Humility, that they may challenge Pride; in fullness they dispute of Fasting, and what they build up with words, they pull down with deeds, the works, they do bear witness of them; you may know them by their Fruits, they do not only contend, but fight for a Bishopric, the Ancients were dragged against their wills to a Bishopric, but went willingly to Martyrdom, they feared the chief Chains worse than a Prison or Cross.  
Ex Catal. Illyr. There is a Story, that about the year 1228. at Paris in a Synod or Convocation of the Clergy, one that was appointed to preach, was much troubled in his mind what to say; the Devil came unto him and asked him why he was so careful what to Preach, say thus, quoth the Devil, the Princes of Hell salute you, O ye Princes of the Church, and gladly give you thanks, because that through your default and negligence, all Souls go to Hell, and the Preacher added, that he was enforced by the Command of God to declare the same, yea, and a certain token was given him for a sign whereby the Synod might evidently see that he did not lie. Ex catal. Illyr. fol. 546.  
Alexander Fabricius. Alexander Fabricius a Popish English Writer about the year 1420. in his Destructorium Vitiorum part 6. cap. 79. saith, Who are more horribly enthralled to the Devil's servitude, than those who are constituted in the sublimity of Honour; Ecclesiastical men, who ought to be the light of the world, yet where is more abundant darkness of vices? Where more abundant gaping after earthly things, than in modern Prelaet●▪ who are fatted in both powers, as well Temporal or Spiritual? Where is greater Pomp in all appendicles, yea, and that so much, that having left the poverty of the Primitive Church, they are now rather to be termed Princes of Provinces, than Postors of Souls, thus he, and much more to this purpose.  
Lucifer's Letter to the Prelates. Mr. Fox, in Acts and Monuments, makes mention of a Device or Letter feigned under the name of Lucifer Prince of Darkness, written to the persecuting Prelates of England, which Mr. Fox transcribed out of the Register of the Bishop of Hereford, written, as some think, by William Swinderby; I will only mention some few expressions to our purpose:  
Lucifer Prince of Darkness, etc. To all our Children of Pride, and Companions of our Kingdom, and especially to our Princes of the Church of this later age and time, etc. send greeting, to all that obey our Commandments, and the Laws of Satan already enacted:  
Know ye that in time past, certain Vicegerents of Christ following his steps, etc. in a beggarly life converted in a manner all the world, from the yoke of our tyranny, to the great derision and contempt of our Prison, House and Kingdom; but we seeking remedy for time to come, instead of those Apostles, we have caused you to be their Successors, which be Prelates of the Church, by our great might and subtlety, as Christ said of you, they have reigned but not by me; once I promised him all the Kingdoms of the world, etc. but he would not, but to you, who are fallen from grace, co serve us in the earth, is that my promise fulfilled; therefore fill yourselves full, and be contrary to those Fathers in your life and conditions, and exalt yourselves above all other men, and neither give to God nor Caesar that which is theirs, but exercise you the power of both Swords, fight our quarrel, entangle yourselves in worldly matters, and climb up from the miserable state of Poverty, to the highest seat of Honour, and Princely places of Dignity, by Wiles and Subtilty, Flattery, Lying and Perjury, Treason, Deceit and Simony, and what our Infernal Furies may devise; and after you are advanced thither where you would be, then either by Violence, Raving, or by Ambition subtly pilfer away, and wrongfully wrest, and by false Titles possess those goods which should be for the sustentation of the poor members of Christ, whom from our first fall we have hated, and consume these goods as yourselves list, with Whores, Strumpets and Bawds, etc. with whom ye ride pompously like mighty Princes, far otherwise than those beggarly Priests in the Primitive Church; for I would have you to build Palaces, far like Princes, to eat the daintiest Ma 'tis and drink the pleasantest Wines, and hoard up Treasure and not be like Peter and Paul, who said, Silver and Gold have I none: Ye fight for us, according to your ways O acceptable Society or Fellowship, promised to us, when Christ called you the Synagogue of Satan, we love you for your deserts, which contemn the Laws of Simon Peter, and embrace the Laws of Simon Magus: Ye regard Money, and have no regard to Souls, ye have made the House of God a Den of Thiefs, ye make Laws and keep not the same, ye justify the wicked for reward, and take away the just man's desert from him and thus the Sovereignty of our Empire, by you, hath been reform, and our intolerable loss restored: We would also you should do our Commendation to our entirely beloved Daughter's Pride, Deceit, Wrath, Avarice, Belly-chear and Lechery; especially to Lady Simony, who hath made you men, and given you suck on her own breasts, and therefore in no wise shall call her Simon: And if any man preach, or teach otherwise than you will have him, oppress ye him violently with Excommunications and Censures heaped one upon another, and let him be condemned as an Heretic or Schismatic, and kept in Prison till he die, for an example to all such as confess Christ: And thus do your endeavour that you may deserve to have the place which we have provided for you.  
Far ye well. Given at the Centre of the Earth in that dark place where all the Rabblement of Devils were present.  
Lord Cobham: The noble Martyr Sr. John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham professed that the Will of God is, That Priests being secluded from all worldlyness, should conform themselves to the Example of Christ and his Apostles, that is, in Poverty, and teaching the Scriptures purely, and giving good example to others, more than any other sort of people, where (saith he to the Prelates) do ye find in God's Law, that you should sit in Judgement of any Christian man, but in Annas and Caiphas that sat thus of Christ and upon his Apostles afrer his Ascension; of whom only have ye taken it to judge Christ's members as ye do, since the Venom of Judas was shed into the Church, and by Venom (saith he) I mean your Possessions and Lordships, for then an Angel cried in the Air, Woe, woe, woe, this day is Venom shed into the Church; as your own Churches mention: before that time all the Bishops of Rome in a manner were Martyrs, etc. but since, Popes and Bishops, one hath cursed and poisoned, slain and done much mischief to another: Christ was meek and merciful, but they are proud and tyrannical, Christ was poor, but they are rich, etc.  
Arnulphus In the second Tome of the general Counsels, mention is made of a Book called Opus tripartium, which Sabellicus and Platina thought to be written by Arnulphus; In which Book he complaineth of the great number of Holy days in which Whores and naughty women said, That they vantage more in one of those days, than in fifty days besides: He complained also of the inconsiderate promotion of evil Prelates, and the wantonness and laciviousness of their Servants, and excess in Apparel; Also of Prelates mispending the Church goods in superfluity and upon their Kinsfolks and other worse ways, etc.  
Hostiensis. Hostiensis, saith in his third book Idecime; That if Priests do not minister of their Spiritualities to the people, the people ought to take away the Alms of their Tithes from them; and John Huss, said, That Tithes and Oblations given to the Church, 
John Huss.  are public and common Alms, when Kings and Princes, Knights and Citizens, etc. give to the Church or to the Priest for his Stipend, they give it to the Church of God and to the party as a perpetual Alme that they should attend upon the Ministry, otherwise Alms should not be a work of mercy, hereupon (saith he) it appears that Tenths in Gospel times are pure Alms given to the Church for the use of the poor: And hereupon holy men have said, that Tenths are tribute of needy souls, as St. 
Augustin.  August●n in a Sermon of the restoring of Tithes, saith, The giving of Tithes, my dear Brethren, are the tributes of poor souls, therefore pay your tribute unto the poor, for whatsoever doth remain more than a competent living and decent clothing, it is not to be reserved for riot, but is to be laid in the heavenly Treasury by giving it in Alms unto the poor, for whatsoever is given to us more than we have need of, it is not given us for ourselves, but to be bestowed upon others by our hands, and if we do not give it, we invade another man's possession.  
Augustin. Also, in another place Augustin saith, Forasmuch as every man as doth any work of mercy ought diligently to have respect to the ability of them that he bestoweth his Alms upon, lest that by nourishing Loiterers, he be made partaker of their offences: and in 23. quest. 7. Augustin saith, If we possess any thing privately more than what may reasonably suffice us, it is not ours, but the goods of the poor whose Stewards we are, except we challenge to ourselves a property by some damnable usurpation. The gloss upon this part of the question saith, That Prelates are but only Stewards of the Church goods and not Lords thereof  
Hierome o● Prague. Hierome of Prague affirmed before the Council of Constance that the Patrimony of the Church was given for three uses; First, for the use of the Poor. Secondly, for Hospitality. Thirdly, for repairing of Churches, and not to be spent upon Harlots, great Banqueting or Feasting of those that need it not, nor keeping great Horses and Dogs, nor for gorgeous Apparel and other things unbeseeming Christians.  
Richard Wimbleton Richard Wimbleton, in a Sermon at Paul's Cross, in the reign of King Hen. 4. upon these words; Give an accout of thy Stewardship. He said, Every Prelate and Priest shall give an account how they entered into the sheep-fold, and how they have ruled the Flock, whether for outward hire, or love as a Father, or as a Wolf that eateth the Sheep; whom hast thou turned from his wicked life, etc. hast thou taught the Law of God, or the Laws of men? how hast thou disposed of the goods of the poor? they shall (saith he) hear grievous complaints of Fatherless Children, that Prelates and Priests have lived of their Alms and have not done away their Sins, they are not ashamed to waste in the house of Pride and Lechery, and keep to themselves wickedly and cursedly that which should be the livelihood of the poor: they live not like Priests, but like Beasts, they are clothed like Knights, they ride like Princes, and all they thus spend is the goods of the poor: This, and much more the like did he declare in that Sermon.  
William Swinde William Swinderby, a Martyr under King Richard the 2d, had this Article objected against him, that he held that all Priests are of like power in all things, notwithstanding that some of them in the world are of greater and higher honour, degree, and pre-eminence, but that is man's appointment and not of God; and as concerning the Wealth, Possessions, and Lordships of Prelates, he thus affirmed before the Bishops that convened and examined him, he said, That it was lawful and needful for Secular Lords by way of Charity and power given to them of God, for the default of Prelates and cursed Curates, that openly misuse the goods of the Church, that be poor men's goods, the which poor men, Lords been holden to maintain and defend, to take away and withdraw from such Curates, poor men's goods (which Curates wrongfully holden) in help of the poor, and their own wilful offerings he means, their freewill offerings, and their bodily Alms deeds, and give them to such as duly serve God in the Church, and been needy in up-bearing of the charge that Prelates should do, and do it not: And as anent taking away of Temporalities, I say that it is lawful for Kings, Princes, Dukes and Lords of the world, to take away from Popes, Cardinals, Bishops and Prelates, possessions in the Church, their Temporalities and their Alms, that they have given them, upon condition that they should serve God the better, when they verily seen that their giving and their taking been contrary to the Law of God, to Christ's living and his Apostles, and namely, in that they take upon them that should be next followers of Christ and his Apostles in poorness and meekness, to be secular Lords against the teaching of Christ and St. Peter, Luke 22.25.26. and 1 Pet. 5.3. And namely, when such Temporalities makes them the more proud both in heart and in Array than they shoulden been else, and more in strife and debate against Peace and Charrty, and in evil ensample to the world, to be occupied in worldly business which draws them from the service of God and edifying of Christ's Church, etc. then he thought upon such misdemeanours to take away their Temporalities, etc.  
Anselme. Anselme, also saith that Presbyters are above, and were before Bishops, and are of Divine Institution, but so are not Lord Bishops, and saith, That Presbyters did first elect and institute Bishops and ordain them to their office, and not Bishops ordain Presbyters as they do now: So Anselme Bishop of Canterbury, on 1 Tim. 4.14. 
Canon of afric.  Also the Canon of afric in the year 990. Sect. 17. saith, There is no difference between a Priest and a Bishop, but that the Bishops were constituted by men, to confer orders, 
A general consent that Ministers and Bishops are of equal power.  this equality of power in Priests and Bishops according to divine institution hath been also maintained by John Wickliff and the one and twenty Bishops, and eight Arch-deacons, and seventeen Doctors mentioned above in King Hen. the 8th his reign, who did all declare that there was no pre-eminence of power, order, or jurisdiction between the Apostles themselves, or between Bishops themselves; but that Ministers or Bishops are all equal in power, authority, and jurisdiction, and that there is now any difference, it is a device of men by the permission of Princes and Civil powers; the same also is maintained by Cyprian, St. Hierom, Ocham, John Lambert Martyr, John Bradford, William Alley Bishop of Exeter, Alexander Nowell Dean of Paul's, Pilkington Bishop of Durham, and innumerable Writers more, hold Ministers and Bishops of equal power by divine Institution.  
Henry Stalbridge. Mr. Henry Stalbridge whom I have mentioned once before, in his Exhortative Epistle printed at Basil, saith, I say yet once again, and that in the zeal of the Lord, as he is my Judge, I wish, if his gracious pleasure so were, that first the King's Majesty, and so all those to whom God hath given power and authority on Earth may throughly see and perceive, how that not only the bloody Bear and Wolf of Rome, but also the most part of other Bishops and stout sturdy Canons of Cathedral Churches, with other petty Prowlers and prestigious Priests of Baal in all Realms of Christendom, especially in England do roar abroad like Lions, fret like angry Bears, and by't like cruel Wolves, clustering together like swarms of Adders in a Dunghill, or most wily subtle Serpents, to uphold & preserve their Interest, Paul admonished us of them, that after his departing grievous Wolves should enter, not sparing the flock, Acts 20.29. These spiritual man-hunters are the very offspring of Cain, Children of Caiaphas, and Successors of Simon Magus as their Doctrine and Living declare: Most cruel enemies have they been in all ages to the Verity of God, and most fierce Persecutors of Christ and his Church. Marvel not ye Bishops and Prelates, saith he, though I thus, in the zeal of Elias and Phineas stomach against your sturdy stubborness, for never was any tyranny ministered upon Christ's mystical members but by your procurement; never did Christ send such bloody: Apostles and two horned Warriors, but the Devils Vicar-Antichrist sent them, who is the deadly destroyer of faithful Beleivers, etc. and so he goes on. I reckon it therefore (saith he) high time for all Christian Princes which pretend to receive the Gospel of Salvation, and to live in peace and tranquillity for ever, to cast the Bishops out of Privy Counsels, and utterly to seclude you from all administrations, till such time as they find you no longer Wolves, but faithful Feeders, no Destroyer's, but gentle Teachers; for consider your beginning, never came you in with your Mitres, Robes and Rings, etc. it the door, as did the poor Apostles; but by the window unrequired, like Robbers, Thiefs and Man-quellers, with Simon Magus, Martion and Menander, never was your proud pontifical power of our heavenly Fathers planting, and therefore must be rooted up, Matt. 15.13. If any thing under Heaven hath need of Reformation, let them that mind any Godliness, think this to be one, for if these be not spiritual Spiritual Thiefs, Soul-murtherers, Heretics, Schismatics, Church-robbers, Rebels and Traitors to God and man, where are any to be looked for in the world; for nothing can they do but work daily mischief, as well may they be spared in the Common wealth (saith he) as Kites, Crows, Buzzards, Polecats, Rats, Weasles, Otters, Wolves and Foxes, bodily Fleas or flesh Flies, or other devouring noisome Vermin; for so long as they sit in the Parliament-house, the Gospel shall be kept under, and Christ persecuted in his faithful members: take me not here (saith he) that I condemn any Bishop or Priest that is godly, doing those Offices the Scripture commandeth, as preaching the Gospel and providing for the poor, etc. but against bloody Butchers that murder God's people, and make havoc of Christ's Congregation, to maintain Jewish Ceremonies and Paganish Superstition in the Christian Church, these are not Bishops, but Sheep-biters, Tyrants, Tormentors, and the Devil's slaughter men, but such as in poverty preach the Gospel, provide for the poor, rebuke the wicked world of Pride, Idolatry, Hypocrisy, they are not only worthy of a competent living, but worthy of double honour: but from the inordinate excess of Riches, Bishops and Prelates ought of all men to be sequestered, considering that the wicked nature of Mammon is always to corrupt; yea the very Elect of God were not more merciful, saith he.  
Thus as you have heard by these Testimonies above, Lord Bishops standing in the Church with their Dignities and Jurisdictions is not of God's institution, but by men, yet God suffers such kind of Adversaries in the Church, saith Mr. Fox, in Acts and Monuments page 1440. who under the name of the Church maintain a worldly State and Kingdom; and because they cannot uphold their cause by Scripture, the holy word of God, they bear it out, with outfacing, railing and slandering, making Princes and People believe that all are schismatics, Rebels, and what not; and subverters of the Common wealth, who soever that dare, although it be by plain Scripture, to speak against their do: As it is written of the Emperor, that when he had burned Rome six days and seven nights, he made Proclamation that the innocent Christians had set the City on fire, to stir up the people against them, whereby he caused them to be burned and destroyed as Rebels and Traitors. See Suetonius in Nerone.  
Melancton Melancton, in an Epistle to King. Hen. 8. saith, That long and horrible darkness hath been in the Church of Christ, that men's traditions not only have been a yoke to good men's Consciences, but also which is worse, they have been reputed for God's holy Service, to the great dishonour of God and hindrance of his true worship, and the Keys were abused to the maintenance of usurped tyranny, and Ceremonies, men's inventions; and it is not light offence to set up new kinds of worshipping and serving God, such presumption God doth horribly detest, the manner of his worship is known in his word only, and he will not hale Religion to be invented by men's devise, for so the Koran, and all Religion in all Nations might be approved and allowed of: Therefore saith the Wise man, In all thy ways acknowledge God, and lean not unto thine own understanding. Prov. 3.5, 6. God hath commanded us to hear Christ, Acts 3.22. and not to hear the invention of subtle politic heads which frame Religion for their own Lucre, and advantage; we ought not to dissemble in God's matters, but use them as the Scripture speaketh, for no service nor worship pertaining to God ought to be set up by man's device, and Bishops will never cease to rage's against the Church of Christ without mercy or pity, for them the Devil useth as Instruments and Ministers of his malice and fury against Christ in his members.  
Luther. Luther, in his answer to the Pope's Bull, saith, That any Fool, Ass, or Blockhead may condemn a man of Error, by saying, I like it not, I deny it, I will not have it so, without any reason from Scripture: Is not thy whorish face ashamed to dare to set the trifling vanities of your own bare words, of the Canons and Institutions of your own inventions, against the Thunderbolts of God's Word? if such reasoning were sufficient to condemn men without Scripture, why may we not turn Turks, Heretics, Jews or Atheists, as well as Papists?  
Steven Gardiner. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, in his Book de vera Obedientia saith, Though it be granted that Peter had the preferment of the first name or place in the Order of the Apostles, which yet I would deny him, yet it followeth not (saith he) that with this primacy he had also a Kingdom given him, and though the Lord bid him confirm his Brethren, yet was he not bid to exercise an Empire over his Brethren, for so they should not be his Brethren, but his Subjects.  
Richard Feurus. Richard Feurus, a Martyr about the year 1554. in the Province of Dolphin, in his disputing against his Adversaries, he affirmed, That the word of God ought to be our Rule, and that nothing is left to Doctors or Councils to be devised without the word of God, and that all things necessary either for government of the Church, off or the Salvation of man, are expressed and prescribed in the word of God, for Paul saith, That he durst not utter any thing but what the Lord had wrought in him and shown unto him, Rom. 15.18. John willeth us to receive no man, unless he bring the same Doctrine, that we have received from Christ and his Apostles, Let him be accursed: Christ's Sheep hear his voice and know his voice, but they know not the voice of a Stranger, and all manner of worship and service that is not prescribed in the word of God, is the voice of Strangers; Hence it will follow, that such Strangers that both command and practise such Ceremonial service of God, as is not prescribed in the Word of God in the New Testament, Kings and Princes, etc. may lawfully take away their Temporalities and Tithes, and dispose of them to better uses as hath been said above.  
Richard Lovingham, in the reign of King Hen. 4. gathered out of a Book of John Purvey, that the Temporalities of the Clergy in England at that time in the hands of such as did no duty for it, belonging their office to do, besides other Temporalities, he said, That the King, Lords, and Commons, might without any other Charge, but these Temporalities, maintain fifteen Garrisons with fifteen thousand Soldiers having sufficient Lands and Revenues to live upon, and also maintain fifteen thousand Priests and Clerks, and fifteen Colleges more, and an hundred Hospitals, and every house an hundred Marks a year, and bring in besides above twenty, thousand Pounds a year into the King's Coffers. He said also, that the Kings and Lords ought to banish the Pope and his Factors out of their Lands, and all Bishops and their Factors that say it appertaineth not to Kings and secular Lords, but to them and their Officials, to punish Adultery and Fornication, they do fall into manifest Treason against the King, and Heresy against the Scripture, and that it doth appertain to the King to have the ordering of Priests and Bishops, as Solomon and Jehosaphat and others had, saith Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments, pag 502. Now if the temporalities at that time would have done so much in England, what will the temporalities and tithes of three Kingdoms do now that Lands are at so high a rate to what they then were.  
Augustin. Huldrick, Bishop of Ausburg, in an Epistle to Pope Nicholas the first, about the year 867 said, that good correction proceeding from the lesser to the greater, is not to be refused nor disdained, when he that is corrected is found to strive against the truth, to please men, and he mentions Augustin writing to Boniface, that the disputations of all men, be they never so Catholic or approved persons, yet ought not to be received instead of Canonical Scripture; 
Gregory.  so that we may (saith he) disprove or refuse any thing that is in their writings contrary to truth, to which he adds a saying of St. Gregory; What shall become of the Sheep, when the Pastors themselves become Wolves.  
Panarmetanus. Mr. Rogers, in his Answer to the Bishop of Winchester, said, that all the Laws of men, might not, nor could not rule the word of God, but that all things should be discussed and judged thereby, and obedience given thereunto, and that no Christian man's Conscience could be satisfied without Laws that agree not with God's word, and he quotes Panarmetanus, which said, That unto a simple lay man that brings the word of God with him, there ought more credit to be given, than to a whole Council, and to what they concluded without or beside the word of God. 
Walter Mill.   
Walter Mill, a Martyr in Scotland, said, that these which we call Bishops, do not the work of Bishops, nor the Office of Bishops, as Paul biddeth Timothy, but live after their own sensuality and pleasure, and take no care of the Flock, nor yet regard the word of God to do thereafter, but desire to be called Lords, etc. And Luther saith, that neither Pope nor Prelate can make Articles of Faith, nor Laws of good works and manners, and that we may withstand their do, and Judge upon their Decrees by the word of God, though their Decrees be approved by a General Council.  
Doctor Molius. Doctor Johannes Molius, sometime a grey Friar, disputed three days together at Rome, against Bishops and Cardinals, by Pope Paul the third his appointment, of Original Sin, of Justification by Faith, and of  and Purgatory, and they all not being able to refel his Arguments, at last they answered him: That what he affirmed was truth, nevertheless it was not meet for that present time, for that it could not be taught nor published without detriment to the Apostolic See: wherefore he should refrain from preaching the Epistles of St. Paul, and return to Bononie, and there profess Philosophy: By this it appears, That Popes and Prelate's Act against their Conscience, and will not suffer the truth to take place, lest they should lose their honour and wealth, for here they confess that what Doctor Molius said was truth, but they might not suffer it at that time; no nor never since to be taught; their reason was, it would be detriment to the Apostolic See; but what detriment the truth received and the soul of men, by hiding the truth from them, these Prelates cared not for: they silenced him from preaching the truth. to profess Philosophy: And thus Prelates in this age Silence Ministrs from preaching the truth, lest they should come to dishonour thereby and lose their sweet Morsels, for if all Christian Kings Princes, and Nobles were rightly informed in the truths of the Gospel, and of the unlawfulness of Popes, Bishops and Prelates, of their standing in the Church with their titles, dignities and jurisdictions, which Papists themselves have confessed is but from men, and not from God, why then should Kings and Princes by suffering them in such ways become guilty of their Sins, but rather rouse up themselves and take from them that which is not theirs but by usurpation; that is, the temporalities and tithes which they unjustly possess, as is showed above. Neither need they fear the Popes nor Bishops Excommunications, for they have no more Authority from God to Excommunicate for such things, than the poorest Shepherd or Swineherd hath that keeps Sheep or Swine upon the Commons, for as their standing in the Church is not of God, so their Excommunication is not of God.  
John Claydon. Richard Turming. John Claydon and Richard Turming, both Martyrs, they did both affirm, that the chief cause of the Persecution of Christians was the Prelates unlawful keeping of temporalities and other superfluous goods which they are afraid to be deprived of, for they know that they cannot hold them if the truth should take place, and were publicly manifested, by what unlawful means they hold their Temporalities and Tithes, their Courts and Offices, and the unlawfulness of their Dignities and Jurisdictions, and the like.  
Aeneas' Silvius. Aeneas' Silvius who wrote the Book of the Council Basil, he writing to Jasper Sthlick the Emperor's Chancellor in his 54th Epistle saith, That the way to remedy Schism and make peace in the Church is, for Kings and Princes to unite together and and conclude of Peace, and this way neither Pope nor Council, could withstand, Unity may be concluded whether Pope or Council will or not, and so Kings and Princes in their own Dominions may take the Temporalities and Tithes, and so put in order things that are amiss, whether Pope or Council will or not: neither saith he, do I see any of the Clergy so confident to death which will suffer Martyrdom, neither for King or Pope, for all we do lightly hold that Religion which our Princes hold, if they would worship Idols we would do the same, and not only deny the Pope, but God also, if the Secular power strains us thereunto; for Charity waxeth cold, and all Faith is gone, however let us seek for peace, and whether it come by a Council, or a Synagogue, or a Conventicle, call it what you will, I care not, so we have peace.  
Cardinal Aralatensis And Cardinal Aralatensis, in the same Council of Basil said, That all Bishops ought to understand that they come to have greater power than Priests only by custom, and not by dispensation of the truth of God, and that they ought to rule the Church together, for a Priest is the very same that a Bishop is by divine Institution, for there is such a concordance, saith he, between a Bishop and a Priest, that Paul to Titus calleth Bishops Priests, and Christ saith, Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, neither was there any rich Bishop in the Primitive Church, neither did the ancient Church reject Dionysius Bishop of Milan, nor Eusebius Bishop of Vercellus, Hilary Bishop of Pictavia, although they were never so poor, but if we will grant the truth, the poor are more apt to give right Judgement then the rich, because riches causeth fear, lest they should be taken from them, and others poverty causeth liberty, for the poor fear no Tyranny as rich men do, who are given over to all kind of Vanity, Idleness, and sloth, and will rather deny Christ, than lose their riches, whom not love to the Flock, but love to Revenues makes them Bishops.  
And farther, to show that Bishops will not own the truth against opposition for fear to lose their riches, the same Aeneas Silvius in his thirty eighth Epistle to Cardinal Julian saith, those Cardinals which so magnified the Authority of the Church, as though they were ready to spend their lives for the same, and now at the sight of one Letter from their King wherein no death was threatened, but only loss of their Temporalities and for fear of that, they slipped away from the Council of Basil, etc. and in the same Epistle, he said derideingly, That they had rather lose their faith, than lose their flock and preferment, etc.  
Hierome. St. Hierome upon these words, unsavory Salt, saith, That it is no easy thing to stand in the place of Peter and Paul, and to keep the Chair of them that reign with Christ: This Unsavoury Salt, saith he, is foolish and unprofitable Prelates, unsavoury in their places, good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden down of Swine, that is, saith he, of wicked Spirits, which have dominion over wicked Prelates, as their Flock and Herd.  
Mr. Tindal. Mr. Tindal in his book of the wicked Mammon, page 45. saith, seek the word of God in all things, and without the word of God do nothing though, it appear never so glorious, for what soever is done without the word of God, that count to be Idolatrous, but by the word of God Prelates have no right to Temporalities, Christ, saith he, took away the violence and power of the Law to make us free, and set us at liberty from Ceremonies and other impositions which do consist in places, persons, garments, meats and days, etc. so as their use should be to all men free and indifferent, so that if the Pope would make all observations of Geremonies, as Lent, Fasts, Holidays, Confession, Masses, Matins, Relics and all the rest free and indifferent, he should not be Antichrist, but the commanding them in the name of Christ, he corrupteth the Church, and suppresseth the Faith, and whatsoever is not of Faith, is Sin, therefore by that means he advanceth Sin, and becometh Antichrist, and upon this account we have many inferior Antichrists under the Pope, who, to their power seek to establish the same Ceremonies, etc. and so become Antichrists.  
Jacobus Selestadiensis. In a Letter of Jacobus Selestadiensis to Maximilian and Emperor, he said, The goods of the Church as it is alleged by the Fathers, are the Vows of the Faithful, and Patrimony of the poor, for the faithful through the fervency of their faith and love of Christ have enriched the Church with their own goods, that the poor might be refreshed, and Captives redeemed; wherefore such as have the administration of these goods, aught diligently to be looked upon, that they do not convert them to their own proper use, and neglect them in whom Christ is fed and clothed.— Prosper also saith, That holy men did not challenge the Church goods as their own, but as given to the poor, to be divided to all them that have nothing, neither ought they to give any thing to those that have of their own enough, for that is but to cast things away. Ex Illyrico. 
Illyrico. Reynold Peacok.   
John Brothwick. Reynold Peacock, Bishop of Chichester said, That the riches of Bishops are the good of the poor, and that spiritual persons by the law of God ought not to have temporal possessions, and that personal tithes is not due by God's law: that the Universal Church of Rome may err in matters of faith, and that it is not necessary to Salvation, to believe what General Councils ordain and determine: these points and other to this purpose he confessed he held and taught the space of twenty years, and after the Bishop of Canterbury and other Bishops set themselves against him, he was imprisoned during his life.— Also, Sir John Brothwick, Martyr in Scotland in the year 1540 said and did affirm, that all temporal Possessions and Jurisdiction ought to be taken from the Prelates.  
The assembly of the Tigurines at Zurick, affirmed to the Synod of Lucerna, that what now doth maintain the Monasteries and houses of Canons; was first given to the poor and needy, whereas now one hath so much, as might serve a great many, wherefore it seemed to them not inconvenient, that those goods should again be converted to the use of the poor, for it is well agreeing to the will and service of God, said they, that the poor should be succoured, but this cannot be expected from any Synod nor Council who possess these goods, it must either be done by the King, Lords, or Commons, or it will never be done while the Prelates may be Judges in their own cause.  
In the Council of Basil, there was one at the choosing of a new Pope, which seems to be Aeneas Silvius, or Cardinal Aralatensis, who said, he had often in his judgement consented to their opinion, which said it was evident that the temporal Dominion should be divided from the Clergy or Ecclesiastical state, for I do think said he, that the Priests thereby would be made more apt to the Divine Ministry.  
Cornelius Bish. of Rome. About the year 255. Cornelius' Bishop of Rome and Martyr under the Tyranny of Dicius the Emperor, this Cornelius in his Epistle to Fabius, alleged also in Eusebius lib. 6. cap. 43. Cornelius speaking of his Church of Rome how that there ought to be but one Bishop in the same, he maketh mention of 46. Priests, seven Deacons, and seven Subdeacons, and & 42. Acoluthes; and of Widows and other poor afflicted persons to the number of fifteen hundred and above, found and nourished in the same Church by the merciful providence of God out of the Church goods and alms given to that purpose, and yet all that time the Church was not endowed with Temporalities nor Tithes; and yet the Bishop being a faithful Steward of such alms and oblations as was offered, there was 102. Church Officers and above 15 hundred poor relieved out of the Church goods. This is a precedent sufficient to show how Church goods was bestowed in the Primitive Church, and this plainly proves all Prelates in this later age to be Sacrilegious persons, by robbing the poor of their right, and converting it to their own use.  
S. Laurence. In the eighth persecution of the Primitive church, under the Emperor Valerianus, when the Tyrant demanded of St. Laurence the Treasure of the Church, Laurence stretching out his arms over the poor said, these are the precious treasure of the Church, these are the treasure indeed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth, in whom Jesus Christ hath his Mansion places, and what ye do to the least of these, ye do to me, said Christ.  
William Thorpe. William Thorpe in the reign of Hen. 4. maintained before the Bishop of Canterbury, that Cisteriensis saith, that Gregory the tenth a thousand years after Christ was the first under the Gospel that ordained and commanded by a Law that Tithes should be given to the Priests, but Paul exhorteth all men to follow him as he followed Christ, and that was in patience and poverty to preach the Gospel and to labour with his own hands that he might not be chargeable to others, and though Christ hath ordained that those that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel: but we saith Paul, that covet to be faithful followers of Christ, use not that power, he would not make the word of God chargeable, and though Tithes were given to the Levites during the Levitical Priesthood, yet under the Gospel neither Christ nor his Apostles took Tithes, nor commanded the people to pay Tithes, but to give alms and other good works of mercy, for Christ being come, he changed the Priesthood from the tribe of Levi to the Tribe of Judah, to which Tribe never Tithes was paid; for as there was a change of the Priesthood, so there was a change of the Laws, and the Law of paying tithes ceased when the Ceremonial service of the Tabernacle and Temple ceased, for which service tithes were given, so that tithes are not now to be given by any right of the Levitical, and there is no new gospel law for paying of Tithes. And Sir, saith he, ye wots well that Priests and Levites who received tithes, were not so perfect as Christ and his Apostles who received no tithes, but preached the Gospel and lived by pure alms of the people, and the Disciple is not above his Lord; it is sufficient that the Disciple be as his Lord. To which the Archbishop was not able to answer, but broke out into cursing, and bid Gods curse and his fall on him for his so teaching. And Sir, saith he, there is a Doctor, I think it is St. Hierom that saith, 
St. Hierome.  those Priests that challenge tithes now under the new law of the Gospel, they say in effect that Christ is not become man, nor that he hath yet suffered death for man's love, he means for love to man, nor abolished the Levitical law, wherefore this Doctor saith, seeing tithes was the hire of the Levites in the old law for bearing about the Tabernacle, & slaying & flaying of Beasts, etc. & for keeping of the Temple, and sounding the Trumpets before the Host of the Battle, etc. which law is now abolished: those Priests that now challenge and take tithes, deny Christ to be come in the flesh, and those that stick to the rights of the Law, Paul saith Christ shall profit them nothing, Gal. 5.2. and as this Dr. saith, they take tithes wrongfully, for whatsoever dignity any Priest is in, if he do not follow Christ and his Apostles in true preaching, in poverty, and other heavenly virtues, though such be named Priests, they are not Priests but only in name, for the work of a very Priest in such a one is wanting; this sense saith he, is approved by Austin, Gregory, chrysostom and Lincoln.  
Thorps'. Testament. There is a writing in the Acts and Mon. of the Church, p. 499. which is called Thorps' Testament, but might better be called his complaint against the vicious Clergy, in which he saith, that either God the Father hath deceived all mankind by the living and teaching of Jesus Christ and his Apostles in poverty-meekness and humility, etc. or else Popes; Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, with all the contagious flock of Priesthood, etc. are deceived, which live so contrary, to Christ and his Apostles, increasing damnably in sin, in pride, and are obstinate Simoniac, and so are heretics, defiled adulterers, as their works show, for instead of following Christ and his Apostles in poverty and preaching, the Prelates and Priesthood challenge and occupy unlawfully, temporal Lordship and possessions, and for temporal favour and advantage they sell benefices to unworthy and unable persons, and sell sins for advantage, suffering men and women to live from year to year in scandalous vices, and they contemn the meekness and poverty of Christ, to take their livelihood of the free will offering of the people's pure alms, thus by their fruit you may know them, whether they be the followers of Christ, or of Antichrist; wherefore all Emperors, Kings, Lords, Ladies, and common people of every degree and state, that know these things and will not withstand these enemies and traitors of Christ, and of his Church, ye strive saith he, for Antichrist against our Lord Jesus Christ, and shall bear the indignation of God Almighty without end, if in time it be not prevented by repentance and amendment.  
Walter Brute. Wal. Brute, before John B. of Hereford in K. Rich, 2d's reign, affirmed that under the Gospel tithes are alms, he denied not but under the old law tithes were given to the Levites for their service in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, but that service of the Levites ceasing at the coming of Christ, who put an end to that Ceremonial law, how can tyths now be demanded or received for that service which is ceased, they may aswell demand the first fruits which was paid in the old law, as well as tithes; but if they claim tithes by force of the Levitical law, then by the same law, Prelates and Priests are prohibited to have any temporalities among their brethren, no more than the Priests and Levites had then when they received tithes: Christ gave no new Commandment of tything any thing, when his Apostles said, we have left all and followed thee, what shall we have? Christ did not say that he would give them temporalities and tithes, and worldly dominion, no that he forbade them, it shall not be so among you, Mat. 20.25, 26. but upon their obedience to his commands, he promised to give them an everlasting Kingdom, they that will have tithes by virtue of the Levitical law, they are bound to keep that law, and by the works of the law no man can be justified.  
Hierome. Hierom, writing to Nepotianus saith, how can they be of the Clergy who pretend to be so, who are commanded to contemn & despise their own substance, & yet take the substance of others, to take away from a friend is theft, & to deceive the Church & take away that which should be given to the poor, it is sacrilege, so that by this testimony all Bps. Prelates, & Priests that hold temporalities & tithes, etc. that belongs to the Church & to the poor, they are sacrilegions. 
Mersiliu.  Also, Mersilius of Milan taught, that Bps. & Priests should not enjoy temporal estates, & that the corrupt manners of the people did spring from the wickedness of Prelates & Priests, by their evil example.  
Nicholas Herford. Philip Ripingdon. Robert Rigge. Nich. Herford, Phil. Ripingdon and John Ashton, being altogether brought before Wil Bishop of Cant. in K. Rich. 2d reign, did all affirm and say, that it is against the holy Scripture for Ecclesiastical persons to have temporal possessions, and that temporal Lords may at their pleasure take away temporal goods from Church men offending, and that tithes are pure Alms, and that Parishioners may for the offence of their Curates detain the same, and bestow them on others at their pleasure, And Rob. Rig Vice Chancel. of Oxford was displaced for holding of these truths with these men, the Popish Prelates did so rage.  
Pope Alexander and 310. Bishops. In a Council at Rome, in the year 1179. it was decreed by Pope Alex. and 310 Bishops, that none of the Clergy within orders should meal with any temporal business, and that Priests should have but one benefice, and that the Bishops should be charged to maintain such Priests as they did ordain, until they were promoted to some benefice, but how these decrees, as to the Clergies not meddling with temporalities and maintaining such as the Bishops ordain until they be promoted, is manifest to the world: for Popes and Bishops will do and undo at their pleasure for temporal profits.  
D. Hall. George Cassander. Bishop Hall, not many years ago in his book, pag. 835. saith, that George Cassander, a learned Papist, was set on work by two Emperors (viz.) Ferdinand and Maximilian, to compose the quarrels of the Church: and in his 56. p. he saith, that the principal cause of the destruction of the Church, is to be laid upon those, who being puffed up with a vain insolent conceit of their Ecclesiastical power, do proudly and scornfully contemn and reject them which rightly and moderately admonish their reformation, wherefore my Opinion is saith he, that the Church can never hope for any firm peace, unless those which are in Ecclesiastical government will be content to remit something of their too much rigour, and yield something for the peace of the Church, and correct abuses according to the rule of divine Scripture, from which they have swerved, and if abuses be corrected according according to the rule, then must their temporalities and tithes be taken from them, and their Lordly titles and Jurisdictions, and they made like other men.  
By what is said above and proved by many Authors, of Prelates worldly mindedness, and their usurped dominion of temporalities and tithes which they rob and steal from the poor and needy by breaking the conditions for which temporalities and tyths were given and have falsified the trust reposed in them, so that now there is no hope that they will yield any thing for truth's sake, to be reform according to the Scriptures, except Kings and Princes, Lords and Commons, as Angelo Cararo the Venetian Ambassador said of the Court of Rome, unless they go about it roundly in express terms laying aside all Civility, saith he, it will be difficult to bring it about, they are so settled upon their Lees: But their is one text of Scripture which I think doth clear this point of the Lawfulness for Kings and Princes to take again their possessions from Bishop's Prelates and Priests, which all the forenamed Authors plead for, for it doth not only Justify the King and Princes in taking the temporalities from Prelates etc. but it is a precept and law of God that ought to be obeyed and put in execution, that the King's inheritance be not embezzled and given away from succeeding Kings, Ez. 46.16, 17. Thus saith the Lord God, 
Ezek. 46 16.17.  If the Prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the Inheritance thereof shall be his sons, it shall be their Inheritance by a possession by an inheritance, but if he give a gift of his Inheritance to one of his servants, than it shall be his to the year of liberty or Jubilee, which was so named of the long sound of the Trumpet and Joyful shout, because servants that were sold was then at liberty, and joyful to the poor, because their land that was sold or mortgaged was then at liberty and they returned to their possessions. The year of Jubilee or liberty was every fifty years, but many fifty years are expired, and still the usurping Prelates hold the temporalities both from the King, etc. and from the poor who should be relieved out of the profits of those temporalities, but Prelates have been unfaithful Stewards, and therefore it is high time to compel them to deliver up their Stewardship, that they may be no longer Stewards for the Priests as they call themselves and desire to be called, aught to have no temporal possessions or inheritance for their service as Eze. 44.28. I am their Inheritance, ye shall give them no possession in Israel, I am their possession, yea even the Primate himself as he expecteth to be called, who thinks himself to be Successor to Aaron, cannot by Aaron's example possess any temporalities, as in Num. 18.20. And the Lord spoke unto Aaron, then shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part amongst them, I am thy part and thine inheritance among the Children of Israel, and Josh. 13.33. But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance, the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance.  
If Prelates consciences were not seared as with an hot iron, how could they pretend any right to Temporal possessions, either by example of the Levitical Priesthood, unto whom you see Temporal possessions was prohibited, neither by the example of Jesus Christ nor his Apostles, if it were not as Cardinal Aralatensis said in the Council of Basil, that Prelates value their Temporalities above their Spiritualities: Therefore if you observe the rule of Christ, by their Fruits you may know them, and their Fruits in that way hath been the occasion to bring in, and to uphold and maintain Antichrist, the Pope in his Throne; for if it were not for his great Temporal possessions, he could not domineer over Emperors, Kings and Princes as he hath done: and whilst Prelates possess their Temporalities, they do uphold him in his Throne, for both of them are one upheld by the other, if once the one fall, the other will shortly follow.  
Angelo Cararo. Whosoever, saith Angelo Cararo, beholds the surpassing state and magnificence of the Church and Court of Rome, above other Kings and Princes, cannot but wonder that she upon so slender a foundation, and so far from the intention of her Founders, should raise herself to so proud a height, as to turn those benefits she hath received, against, and to the prejudice of them that gave her those possessions, for the Canonists & other Emissaries of that Court, study nothing more, than how to strengthen and extend their Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and abase and demolish the power of Secular Princes if they can possible.  
A Book of the Image of a Bishop In a Book called, The Image of a Christian Bishop, and of a Counterfeit Bishop, set out in the year 1539. he speaks of some that he calls shadows of Bishops, that have raised themselves to dominion and Lordship, against both God and man, against reason, common sense and judgement, after the nature of Tyrants, which rule only by the wrath and indignation of God; for Prelates, saith he, if they be not good and virtuous, to promote the word of God unfeignedly with all their hearts, they are Wolves and cruel murderers of Souls, much like as if Satan should have a Mitre on his head, and Rings on his fingers, and should sit in a Chair to rule the people; for Bishops that do not preach the pure word of God, they are as much to be eschewed as the Devil himself: And whereas Bishops exercise their tyranny over men, under pretence of Conformity to keep men from sedition and strife, he saith, the word of God doth not stir up to sedition and strife, but the stubborn obstinate disobedience of Bishops themselves against the truth, and their rage against the word of God, is the cause of sedition; for whosoever receives the word of God, that man raises not up sedition, albeit he no longer fears such vain Bugs, nor worship such Episcopal Puppets: for since he knows the word of God, he doth not fear nor reverence their vain humane Innovations and Traditions. But wilt thou that I tell thee at one word that they are, they are Wolves, Tyrants, Traitors, Man-quellers, monsters of the World, burdens of the Earth, the Apostles of Antichrist to corrupt and destroy the Gospel: And therefore it is the part and duty of all Christian men, with the word of God, to destroy and pluck up by the roots them and their Kingdom, which our heavenly Father hath not planted, who by their Tyranny destroy the Gospel Institutions of Christ, to establish their own Institutions; so that if there be any Christianity in our minds and breasts, we ought (saith he) to speak unto the King for a Reformation: Thus he, and much more to this purpose. See Mr. prynn's Book of the execrable Treasons, Conspiracies and Rebellions of Prelates, pag. 389, 390, 394.  
William Wroughton, William Wroughton, in his rescuing of the Roman Fox, dedicated to King Hen. 8. We have, saith he, put down some of the Orders of the World, there remains yet two, (viz.) the pompous Bishops and the dependants thereon, and the grey Friars, which if they were put down also, as well as the other, I reckon that there would not be any Kingdom wherein Christ would more reign than in England; and there he proves at large, the Prelate's Canon Law to be the Pope's Law, and that so long as the Bishops maintain it in England, they maintain the Pope in his Sovereignty and Legislative power in England. Thus and more to the same purpose.  
Roderick Morce. To the very same purpose Roderick Morce, in his Complaint to the Parliament, the 37 of Hen. 8. writes thus. The whole Body of the pestiferous Canon Law, according to which Judgement is given through the Realm, so that we are still in Egyptian bondage to the Popes Law. And so long as ye walk in those wicked Laws of Antichrist the Pope, and maintain his Knights the Bishops in such inordinate riches and unlawful Authority, so long ye shall never banish that monstrous beast the Pope out of England; yea and it shall be a means, saith he, in process of time to bring us into bondage to the Pope again, and that knows our forked Caps full well, meaning Mitres: Wherefore if you will banish the Pope, you must fell down to the ground these rotten posts the Bishops, etc. And in another place he said, that one Bishop, one Dean, or College or House of Canons, hath ever done more mischief than ten other Religious Houses. The King, saith he, hath done well in weeding the Garden of England, but yet he hath left the foulest stinking weeds standing, the pompous Bishops, Canons of Colleges, and Deans, etc. But now, saith he, I will speak no more against the particular Pope, seeing every Bishop now is a Pope.  
Martin Bucer. Martin Bucer professors of Divinity in Cambridge writ to King Edward the sixth, that the reformation of the Church could never be expected from the Bishops and said that the wealth of Princes, which ought to be bestowed upon faithful Ministers, upon Schools, and upon the Poor, the Prelates sacraligiously spend it in riot and Princely pomp.  
John Hooper And Mr. John Hooper, both Bishop and Martyr, and great opposer of Ceremonies episcopal rochits and vestments, in which he would not be Consecrated, he said that Magistrates that suffered the abuse of Church goods by the Prelates be culpable of the fault, for if the fourth part of the Bishopric remained to the Bishops it were sufficient, and the third part to Schoolmasters, and the rest to the Poor, and to Soldiers.  
Petrus Blesenses Petrus Blesenses Archdeacon of Bath, writ to the Bishop of Bangor thus, the Title of Poverty is glorious with Christ, and that which became Christ, ought not to misbesem you, St. Peter said Gold and Silver have I none, Acts. 3.6. Yea famous Augustine Bishop of Hippo made no will, because the Poor servant of Christ had nothing to bequeathe, it becomes not you to go sumptuously in Ornaments, nor in Pride with great Horses and multitude of attendance, but to cut off all occasions and Footsteps of such a Conversation, and in another place he saith, the voice of Christ is not, till thy Land, nor build high Houses, nor increase thy Rents, but feed my Sheep.  
Thomas Walsingam. Thomas Walsingam, In hyst. Angl. Page. 205. Said that Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, and other Priests, may not rule like temporal Lords, nor bear any civil Office without mortal sin, and that is a sin to endow them with temporal possessions, and that no Prelates ought to have Prisons to punish or restrain offenders nor ought they to purchase large temporal possessions or riches, etc.  
A nameless Author. A nameless Author in his supplication to King Hen. 8 saith of Bishops, that the only infection and Pestilent poison of Bishops is their great Lordships and Dominions with their yearly revenue with superfluity of goods, which justly belongs to the Poor, and so long as Bishops do possess them, so long will they waste them to maintain their pride and so long as they continue in pride, they shall not receive the holy-Ghost which would teach them to speak the truth, but there is no room in a proud rebellious heart for the holy-Ghost to dwell in wherefore you being our dread Sovereign Lord and King whom God hath set to govern and to redress, enormities and abuses, you are bound in justice and equity, and God requires it from you, to take away from Bishops and Prelates and other spiritual Persons such superfluity of temporal possessions and riches which they abuse and other seculars cures and worldly offices which is the cause of much sin in them.  
William tindal. William tindal in another place of his book of the obedience of a Christian Page 181. writing of the falsehood and juggling of the Pope and Prelates, he saith they have put out the light of God's truth, and set up their own traditions and lies, and rob the world of lands and goods, of peace and Unity, and of all temporal Authority etc. and that as Christ's Kingdom is not of this world, even so the officers of Christ's Kingdom may have no temporal dominion or jurisdiction, nor exercise any temporal authority; for Christ commanded his Apostles that they should not exercise any worldly authority saying it shall not be so among you, Mat. 20.25, 26. And when he sent them out to preach he commanded them that they should not provide neither Gold nor Silver nor brass in their purses etc. for the workman is worthy of his meat, Math. 10. And Paul commanded that if any would not work, neither should they eat, 2 Thes. 3.10. Why then should non residents and others have such large possessions that work very little or not at all, except it be works of darkness their wages should be proportionable to their work, and the overplus should be to the King and the public use of the Common wealth for Clement, 
Clement the successor of Peter.  Bishop of Rome and successor of Peter saith of Prelates if thou be occupied in worldly cares, thou shalt both deceive thyself and them that hear thee, for so thou canst not fully distribute those things which pertain unto salvation:  
Mr. Mead. Mr. Mead, in his book of the Apostasy of the latter times saith as in Deut. 7.6. the Lord chose Israel to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the people of the world. And Amos. 3.2. you only have I known of all the families of the Earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities: the more light of truth God reveals to any people, if they walk not suitable thereunto, the more there sin is increased. The Lord was head and husband to the Church of Israel, but when Israel forsook the Lord and followed their own inventions, God cast them off, and chose another Spouse namely the Church of the Gentiles; And the first Churches of the Gentiles, as the seven Churches of Asia and others, for falling from their first love, as the Church of Ephesus, and the Church of Smyrna, that said they were Jews, as our Prelates say they are the successors of the Apostles, and were the Synagogue of Satan: and the Church of Pergamos, who held the doctrine of Baalim, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, as our Prelates do in their unlawful holding of temporalities, and it were well if we were free from the fornication of Thyatyra, and lukewarmness of Laodecea, I fear that in the general we are like the Church of Sardice, that we have a name to live and are dead, now God for their sins hath cast off all these Churches, and chosen himself another Spouse in these northern Nations, etc. But if we continue in the same and other sins we cannot assure ourselves of any long continuance of the Gospel, except God put it into the hearts of our King and Nobles to endeavour a thorough Reformation especially in the Bishops and Prelates, and other of the Clergy, and their reformation will be a leading way to reform the rest.  
Volusianus. In the Epistle of Volusianus to Pope Nicholas for Priest's marriage he saith, the great Shepherd and Prince of the Apostles doth declare how all Pastors ought to entreat the flock of Christ in love, and to remove all tyrannical Lordship from Bishops for that they ought not to be Lords, but fathers over their flock, and not imperiously to command them as exercising Stately Authority and power over them, but gently to admonish and beseech them, in zeal and piety according to the strength of every person, after the Lord, and not after their own will and ambition, to see forth their power and jurisdiction, whereas they should be ensamples to the flock, first doing that themselves which they command others to do, but some, and that many saith he, are inflamed with affection not of Charity, but of covetousness, greediness, ambition, who covet to be their Masters and more to rule over them than to profit them, they oppress the weak by force and violence of their authority and compel them to their obedience, pretending a zeal for God, but like Uzzah stretch forth their hands and authority beyond the rule, further than God hath allowed them, but Uzzah died for his presumption, to have a zeal according to knowledge as the Apostle saith, is to do all things in God's matters prudently and circumspectly according to the rule of Christ and his Apostles institutions and not according to men's traditions nor humane inventions of Cannons etc.  
Whichcot I heard a Doctor I think his name was Whichcot preach in Blackfriars about seven years ago, a conformable man, and he said that if you would have men to conform, you should first convince their consciences by plain Texts of Scripture of the lawfulness of those things which you would have them conform unto, otherwise to force men to conformity and not convince them by plain Scripture Arguments of the lawfulness of what they conform unto, he said it was to make men outwardly hypocrites and inwardly atheists, now according to this, by the neglect of duty in our Bishops and Prelates, how many thousands, if not hundred thousands hypocrites and atheists have our Prelates made in England within ten years, by pressing ceremonies and observation of things which many hundred thousands do question whether they have any warrant in the word of God, and in the 20. and 21. articles of the Church of England, it is said, that it is not lawful neither for the Church, 
The 20. and 21. Articles.  nor for general Counsels to ordain any thing contrary to the word of God written, which word excludes all unwritten traditions and customs, and that things so ordained have neither strength nor authority, unless it may be declared that they are taken out of holy Scripture, and yet our Prelates will have such things observed without clearing them by Scripture or hearing what may be said against them by Scripture.  
And further Volusianus said from Jer. 48.10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently, that is saith he, not to do the work of the Lord carefully and with a willing mind, for whereas the Lord willeth us not to offer any thing to him against our wills, so doth he forbidden us to compel any man to offer any thing against our wills, and he proves it, Ex. 20.21. Thou shalt not vex nor oppress thy neighbour or a stranger, now it is an oppression & wrong to our neighbours to be corrected for his fault when it is done with disdain, and upbraiding, and not in compassion and mercy towards him, to inform him in the spirit of meekness and not to destroy him in the spirit of bitterness and rigour, much more is our neighbour oppressed when he is corrected for well doing, for endeavouring to follow the Laws of Christ rather than the Laws of men, thus Valusianus.  
Norfolk ●nd Suf●●lk m ns supplication. And in a Supplication of Norfolk and Suffolk men to Queen Mary and her Commissioners, they thus writ, is not this the time say they among other times that Satan rides upon the red horse to take peace from the Earth, for can man go into any place where the sons of wickedness are not ready to search out a man's deeds, and mark his words, and if he agree not with them, in despising God's word, in swearing, lying, whoring and drinking, etc. Then will they spitefully and hatefully rail against him, calling the truth of God error and heresy, and the professors of it heretics and Schismatics, with other odious and despiteful names, as Traitors, and not the Queen's friends, as if to love God's word were heresy, as though to talk of Christ and Religion were Shismatical, as though none could be true to the Queen but such as are false to God, as though none could be the Queen's friends, but such as despitefully rail against her Grace's Father and Brother, and the word of God, as though none were truly Religious but such as blaspheme against the purity of Religion, as though none favoured the Queen but such as hate all Godly knowledge, wherefore we learn that true obedience to God the King of Kings, and for him, and in him, and not against him, to obey Princes and Magistrates, who are not truly obeyed when God is disobeyed, nor yet disobeyed when God is truly obeyed, wherefore we pray that God may move your hearts to weigh these things and take the word of God unto your Council, and then you shall see how Gods commands, and Bishops commands agree, or rather disagree, to which I shall add that by the word of God you may see clearly that neither Bishops nor Prelates etc. ought to have either temporalities or tithes.  
Christ hath said Rev. 11.3. That he will give power to his two witnesses to bear their testimony and witness against the Beast or Ante-christ, therefore they that endeavour to suppress this witness bearing against Ante-christ are themselves Ante-christian, and whether is not Christ's Priestly office invaded by urging men to the observation of ceremonies and a form of worship which Christ hath not instituted, but contrary to Christ's institutions and so against men's consciences, and his Kingly office invaded by exercising a Government over men that hath no ground nor warrant in the word of God, but is of man's devising, and yet punish men that would gladly observe the word of God, for not observing the devices of men.  

Daniel 6 and 7.  What an odious thing is it said one to call out obedience to God by the name of disobedience to men, as in Dan. 3.12. and Dan. 6 10. For his obedience to God in praying three times a day, he was accused for disobedience to the King, and thus it hath been with others, for there is a generation of men, who charge all with Schism that dare not subject their selves to the usurpation and arrogant impositions of the sons of pride, that neither have authority nor ability from God to govern us, who lay snares for men's Consciences, and then accuse men for falling into those snares as the Pagans did against Daniel, who make Laws for the Church unnecessary in their own opinions, and sinful in other men's opinions, and command things which they know others think the Lord forbids, and then load men with reproaches of disobedient, turbulent, heretical, schismatical persons, for not yielding to their imperious commands against their consciences, to call men factious if they will not be of their faction against the Catholic unity and simplicity of the Gospel, how easy and how common is it to call a meeting of sober Christians, for prayer and mutual edification, by the name of a factious and schismatical conventicle, and a meeting of drunkards or gamesters, or harlots, by a far less disgraceful name, if men will but turn their Religion into forms of words or beads, or canonical hours and days outward shows and ceremonies, which have no ground nor warrant in the Scripture, few or none will let, or reproach or persecute you for being too precise or strict for so doing, for by such a Religion it is that Prelates have so long enjoyed their usurped temporalities and tithes.  
●●timer. In Ezek. 44.24. It is said in controversies the Priest shall stand in judgement and they should judge it according to my judgement saith God, but the Bishop of Gloucester had written a book, and for his own and other Prelate's advantage he had changed the meaning of the Text from judging according to God's judgement declared in the word of God to this, they shall judge as the Priest shall decide the matter, therefore Latimer reproved him, saying what gelding of Scripture is this, what clipping of God's coin, nay my Lord the Clergy must not rule according to their own wills, I would there were more faithful dealing with God's word and not leave out a part, and snatch a part here and there etc. If Prelates may thus interpret Scripture they may easily maintain their usurped hierarchy & what not that they have a mind to maintain.  
●rmaca●us. ●ilus Richard Armacanus saith, that to speak, and seek to procure any high place in the Church, it is a point of pride and ambition, and Nilus' Bishop of Thessalonica, saith that the Pope himself hath no dignity above other Bishops, but by human Laws and institutions given by Counsels and Emperors, 
●nselm  and Anselm saith that Presbyters are above Bishops and were before Bishops and did elect them, and Cardinal Aralatensis and several others more saith that Priests or Presbyters are of equal power and authority with bishops, 
●ralaten●.  so that all their Lordly Titles dignities and jurisdictions, their temporalities and tithes are all human devices and not of any Gospel institution, for Christ hath forbidden their Lordliness, saying it shall not be so among you, Mat. 20.26.  
●●hn ●erson. John Gerson declares that the neglect to observe an ancient Canon, viz. that bishops should have poor apparel, lodging, and diet and should not strive for transitory things, but to imitate the Apostles, also he saith their making of laws such as they have no authority from God to make and their enjoining men by censures and excommunications to observe their Laws, their Courts with the oath ex officio and many other things the like, which is the cause of division, which he saith will never be appeased until the heads spiritual be reform.  
Episcopacy when it first crept into the Church, was not so inconsistent with the Gospel rule as now it is, for the bishops that are now, are other kind of Creatures than those were, as the records of antiquity do show that at the first original of them they were chosen by the people and Ministers who were to live under their inspection and Government, yea even the Popes themselves in ancient times were chosen by the people and Priests, and after confirmed by the Emperor, and were not chosen by Cardinals and Courtesans as they are now, neither had they then either temporalities or tyths, but now they intrude themselves with a high hand over the Church and people of God and makes themselves Lords over God's heritage which the word of God forbids, 1. Pet. 5.3. And yet all this the giving both the Pope and Bishops and other Prelate's temporalities and tyths, is but an Antichristian human invention, and not of divine institution, neither do the Bishops now observe the ancient Canons in their ordinations, as Distinct 70. T. ordinationis. which saith. 
Distinst. 29. quando. Distinct 70. T. ordinationis.  Let not the Bishop presume to ordain any without the Council of the Clergy and testimony of the people, and again Distinct 70 T. ordinationis, see that solemnly at convenient time in the presence of many standers by, you make ordination, and especially Distinct. 64. T. Si forte, which saith he shall be no Priest henceforth, who neither Clergy nor people of his own City hath elected: so that if the Clergy or people of any other place elect, and not the Clergy and people of the City or place where he is to serve, by this Canon he is no Priest: And by Acts 1. verse 23. 
didst 64. Si forte  to the 20 and Acts 6.3. to 7. compared with this Canon, there is are thrust upon the people without their electing of them, and therefore have no right to officiate unto, nor to rule such a people.  

Extravag de institu cap ex frequentibus Extravag de prescript c. 51. diligent et cum omne ex de qualit pen●ls 50 destinct  For a Sole possession is not sufficient in Eclestical benefices, unless there concur a Canonical institution Extravag de institu Cap ex frequentibus, a Sole possession maketh not one a Senator or Captain, but a lawful election a prescription doth not profit, in case it be grounded upon an evil consequence, and therefore Since men so ordained be unjust possessors, their deceit and collusion ought not to support them, Extravag. de prescript. T. 51. dilligenti, etc. cum omne. In these Laws in another place it is provided that both the promoter and the promoted, as well the abetters as the deed doers, are to sustain equal punishment, there is a Law, that as well the man unworthily promoting, as the man unworthily promoted shall be deposed ex de qualit c. ponuis, again it is decreed, that if they shall henceforth presume to ordain any that are unskilful and ignorant, that both the ordeyners and the ordained be subject to grievous punishment, upon which decree and the word ordination the gloss flatly concludeth that the Law evermore is that whosoever promoteth an unworthy man deserveth to be deposed: Well then upon this account, that neither the Bishop himself not being elected nor ordained in the presence of those over whom he doth rule, nor those whom he doth ordain and send forth, they both aught to be deposed, both by the Scriptures, decrees, and extravag, above named, so that if there were no other ground or reason but this only, it were sufficient to depose them and to take away their temporalities and tyths from them.  

Cod office prefec orient lib. 3.  For the Emperor Justinian commanded Signos judicis, according to what is said above, if thine excellency find any judges for their negligence or any other like defect, to be unprofitable, thou mayst remove them from their Administrations and place others in their stead: Cod office prefec orient lib. 3. And saith the said Emperor in another place in bello etc. A Soldier in time of war that doth any thing forbidden by his Captain, or doth not keep his General's Commandment is to be punished with death, though his enterprise take good success, and shall then a pretended Minister that forsaketh his standing to walk according to the rules and institutions of Christ and weareth only the Ensign of Antechrist, the proclaimed enemy of Christ his Lord and Master, Maugre the law of his Lord and Master and Maugre the Laws of men above specified and other the like, and shall he enjoy Life and Lands, 
Panormetane  and Live, and tyths, and all? Panormetane a famous Canonist concludeth, that a Doctor allowed may be disallowed again, yea rather saith Bartol a famous Civilian, he may be degraded as a Soldier, 
Bartol  and as a Clerk, for those things saith he, which I have spoken in degrading of a Soldier, the same is to be verified touching the degrading of Doctors and Clerks.  
Herenius Modestimus Hereneus Modestimus said, that a Senator was not therefore a Senator because his name only was in the Table or Register where the names of Senators was written, unless he also were made a Senator according to Law, and the gloss upon that Law verifieth the same to be an argument against those who are not rightly placed in the Churches, and it is manifest that none of our Bishops nor Prelates accord- to their titles and jurisdictions, are rightly placed in the Churches of Christ, because they are not of the institution of Christ as themselves do confess, both Protestants and Papists, and also not having the Seal of divine approbation upon them, they are not rightly placed in Churches nor are not lawful Ministers of Jesus Christ according to his holy institution in truth, but only in name, but in real truth they are the Ministers of Antechrist the Pope, for their titles and jurisdictions is of the Pope's Hierarchical institutions, they cannot deny it, and therefore it is a work of mercy to their souls to unlord them and being them into the right way to imitate Christ and his Apostles, by taking the temporallties and tithes from them, as once an Emperor said and did: That which we unadvisedly have done, we will advisedly revolve and undo.  
And Prelates to excuse their tyranny pretend decency in imposing their unnecessary Ceremonies upon the People, but let it be considered, whether the people who are turned unto God and endeavour to observe the rules of Christ rather than the rules of men, or the Prelates who have forsaken the rules of Christ as appears above all along, to embrace and follow the rules and devices of Men, let wise men judge which of these walk most undecently, and let Bishops consider and examine themselves, whether there robbing the Poor and murdering of Souls, by granting dispensations to none residence, and in giving pluralities be not an undecent walking, can any but those whose Consciences are seared, count these and Covetousness, Pride, hypocrisy, ambition, hatred, malice and revenge, decent and comely in themselves, and the endeavouring to observe the rules of Christ, to be uncomely and undecent in others, if Bishops and Prelates would first reform themselves and take the beam out of their own eyes, or if the King and Nobles would compel them to a reformation according to the word of God, than what the people were required to do, that is decent and comely according to the word of God, they would readily obey, provided as Paul saith, they cast not a snare upon them, but for that which is comely, 1 Cor. 7.35. But now our Bishops take as much upon them as the Pope, (viz.) to make nothing something, and to make the rules and institutions of Christ which is something, nothing in respect of their own traditions and Canons, and to make nothing something, that is to make their own Canons and traditions etc. which are nothing in comparison of the word of God, to set them above the word of God and punisheth the transgressors thereof with sorer punishments than the transgressors of the word of God, and thus they make their nothing something, and Christ's something nothing. And thus they make sin to be no sin, and no sin to be sin, by their unjust Laws, and their disobedience to the Laws and institutions of jesus Christ, may, not God justly complain as once he did of Israel, they have defiled the Land by their own way and by their do, their way is before me as the uncleanness of a removed Woman, Ezek. 36.17. and chap 22.13. I have smitten my hand at thy dishmest gain which thou hast made, there is a conspiracy of her Prophets like roaring Lions ravening the Prey, they have devoured Souls, they have taken the Treasure and precious things, can our Prelates think that God will not thus charge them who have taken the treasure of the Church from those who are the true Church indeed and from Widows fatherless and other poor that should be relieved with that treasure, it follows her Priests have violated my Law, as you see in this page above, they have profaned mine holy things, they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have showed difference between the unclean and the clean, except it be in countenancing the profane and unclean and discountenancing the holy and the clean, see the 25. and 26. verse.  
Mr. tindal. Mr. tindal an English Man, and a Martyr in Flanders, petitioned to King Hen. 8. to have compassion on his Subjects, that the Realm should not utterly perish, through the wicked counsel of his pestilent Prelates, for saith he, the cause of false Preachers is the cause that the people have not love to the truth, being kept ignorant of the truth through their neglect in not preaching the truth  
Mr. hooker's Episcopus Divinus. Mr. Hooker in the second part of his Survey of Church discipline page 23. he saith Episcopus is threefold, Divinus Humanus, Satanicus.  
First a Bishop by divine Institution is such an Officer as Christ hath set in his Church whose Office is set forth and discovered in the word of God, and such are Pastors and Doctors and Teachers. Tit. ● 7. and 1 Tim. 5.17. Episcopus and Presbyter is one thing in Scripture sense.  
Episcopus Humanus. Secondly Episcopus Humanus is a precedent or moderator chosen by consent of Ministers meeting and consulting about the affairs of their Churches in their common consociations, to whom it appertaineth to moderate the actions of the assembly, to propound things to be agitated to gather voices, to pronounce the Sentence which passeth by common approbation, and he had no more but his equal suffrage with the rest and when the action was ended he was but in equal honour with the rest, and it may be in less respect, in regard of years or gifts and yet to leave this constantly upon one man it is perilous and might be an inlet to worse inconveniences than at first could have been suspected.  
Episcopus Satanicus. Thirdly Episcopus Satanicus is such an Episcopus, which the enemy Satan, acting the Pride and suiting the Sovereignty of the Spirits of men hath by a misterous way successively and secretly brought into the Church that so he might Midwife Antechrist into the world, this being the next step to that man of sin, and he becomes Princepe Episcopus who by his Insolency hath arrogated and assumed and at last confirmed even a Monarchical power unto himself, and however the Pope who is Universal Bishop, is the man of sin, yet the Bishop especially when he is ascended to his Arch Bishop's Chair is the same, but only considered in his minority as the Child of sin, or the man of sin in his Childhood, for laying aside the rankness of those extravagancies of the Pope's temporal power, or that power in temporalities, it will appear that the Arch Bishop's power in spiritualibus is of the same kind for he assumes a peerless power unto himself, that look what the King is to his Counsel which he takes unto himself for consultation, but the final determination and resolution lies in his own bosom, 
Downam  even so the Bishop is to his Inferior Clergy, he will hear them speak when he pleaseth to give them allowance, 
Bilson  but it is in his own breast to cast the balance which ways seems best to himself: so say Downam Bilson and Saravia. 
Saravia   
It is incredible that Christ should appoint such an high Officer in the Church; as the Lord Bishop or Diocosan Bishop, or Lord Primate or Lord Metropolitan to bear such an high handover the Church and people of God, and yet never give them any name in all the new Testament whereby they should be known and distinguished from other Church Officers which Christ at his Ascension gave for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. Hence it is clear that they are no Gospel Creatures, nor their Authority and Jurisdictions were never instituted by Christ nor his Apostles, for Paul saith, Acts 20.20. that he kept back nothing that was profitable for the Church, but taught them both publicly and from house to house, and shunned not to declare unto them all the Counsel of God. verse. 27. And yet Paul hath not in all his Epistles named one of these Officers nor their offices.  
God himself in the time of the Law prescribed all the Circumstances and Ceremonies, Officers and Offices that was to be used in his worship and service and left not any thing to the will and devising neither of Moses nor Aaron nor any other, & God hath given Christ to be head to the Church Eph. 1.22. he is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2.10. So that Christ is Sovereign and Supreme, the Sole and only Lawgiver to the Church which is his Mystical body, to give Laws unto his Church both for the outward polity and inward purity of the same, in the duties of his worship and service; And I think it doth argue a very unworthy, If not blasphemous carriage towards Christ, for any man or men Inconsiderately to intrude upon Christ's prerogative, to alter or change, to add or diminish from Christ the Lawgivers institutions, either for matter or manner, for Circumstances or Ceremonies, Officers or Offices other than Christ gave at his Ascension for the perfecting of the Saints. Eph. 4 11, 12, 13. For so to do is to condemn Christ of ignorance or of negligence, as if he knew not or cared not for ordering the affairs of his own house which God hath entrusted him with, but should leave it to sinful men who presume to command things that Christ hath not prescribed to be done, under the name of indifferency, but I conceive that things indifferent, aught to be left to men's free choice to be done, or not to be done, but when those things which they call indifferent are imposed by Mulcts and penalties, it changeth the nature of the thing and makes that which before was indifferent, to be of absolute necessi y, the which thing for any man or men to do (viz) to impose and command in the duties of God's worship that which Christ hath not commanded, it is to exalt themselves above Christ, to impose and give Laws to the Church which Christ hath not given.  
Mr. Perkins Mr. Perkins saith in his first Volume Page 676. That if God be either represented or worshipped in at or before an Image he is presently transformed into an Idol and in Hab. 2.18. He saith that Images, which also in the same verse he calleth dumb Idols, they are teachers of lies, because assoon as God is represented in an Image, he is deprived of his glory and changed into a bodily visible Circumscribed and finite Majesty, for so when the Children of Israel intended to worship God in the Golden Calf, they proclaimed to morrow is a holiday unto the Lord. Exod. 32. And yet the Psalmist saith in so doing, they changed or turned the glory of God into the Similitude of a beast that eateth Grass, Psal. 106.20.  

Human devised worship is Idolatrous Worship  Now if to represent or worship God in at or before an Image be an Idolatrous worship, because God hath not any where in his word appointed nor required such a kind of worship, doth it not hence follow upon the same ground and reason, that to worship God by the traditions and devices and inventions of men, in a way that Christ nor his Apostles never instituted nor appointed, and this kind of worship also to be celebrated by Officers in the Church which neither Christ nor his Apostles did ever institute or appoint unto such Office, but they are also of men's devising, as Lord Primate, Lord Metropolitan, Lord Archb shop, Lord-Bishops, Deans, Sub-Deans Dean and Chapter, Arch-Deacons, Subdeacons, Chancellors, Vicechancellors, Chanter, Sub-Chanter, prebend's, resident and none resident, Canons resident and none resident, Vicars-Corrals, Vicar's Choristers, Curates, and a rabble of the like, the Spawn of Antechrist, and is not this as idolatrous to worship God by such usurping Officers in a way of their own devising, as to worship God in at or before an Image, let wise impartial men judge for Mr. Perkins saith Page. 696 That the worship of God which is devised and taken up by men it is in deed and effect Idolatry, because it is a worship that God doth abhor and detest, who will precisely be worshipped according to his own word and institution, without any addition detraction or change, and it is so much the more Idolatrous because the Officers that do the service have not their Authority from God, but from men, as themselves have confessed.  

Bishops and Prelates are the abominatie of desolation  In 2 Cor. 44. Satan is called the God of this world because men obey his suggestions rather than God's word, and in this respect also Antechrist the Pope is called God, because he more strictly enjoineth men to obey his own traditions, than the very word of God saith Mr. Perkins Page. 681. And in this respect also our Bishops and Prelates make themselves Gods, because they presume to prescribe a form of worship to God which God hath not prescribed nor appointed, and so they set themselves in God's stead, to order the affairs of God's house as God, for none but God himself can prescribe the matter and manner of God's worship, and yet our Bishops and Prelates do alter and change, do add and diminish in the duties of God's worship both for matter and manner of worship and so make themselves Gods, and do a so more strictly enjoin men to observe and obey their own Canons and constitutions than the very word of God, and do punish the transgressors of their Canons with greater punishments, than the transgressors of the word of God, and thus they do not only set themselves in God's stead, and make themselves Gods, but they exalt themselves above God, by punishing men for disobedience to their Canons, more than for disobedience to the Canons of holy Scripture, and thus our Lord Bishops and Prelates by their abominable usurpation, they are the very abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, Matthew 24.15. Whose readeth let him understand, and you will find that Bishops and Prelates are the very same.  

Bishop's ought to conform themselves 〈◊〉 the rule of Christ  And therefore is it not high time, for Kings and Princes and Lords temporal etc. And a duty which God requires from them, having invested them with power to reform such abuses, the which cannot be done but by taking the usurped temporalities and tyths from Bishops and Prelates, and so to call them back from their erroneous usurped wicked ways and compel them to conform themselves and submit unto the rules and institutions of Jesus Christ and no longer suffer them by their usurped power to tyrannise and constrain men against their Consciences to decline or forsake their conformity to the rules and institutions of Christ, and to conform to their wicked usurped Authority in their Idolatrous way of worship of their own devising, for man's intention maketh not God's worship saith Mr Perkins, but doing Gods will, and Gods will, is not to be worshipped by an immaginary devised formality of worship, which is but as an Image or representation of Gods divine instituted worship, for we may not think to bind the presence of God, the operation of his Spirit, and his hearing and accepting of us, to any thing to which God hath not bound himself, either by word of Commandment or promise, or both; now God hath not any where bound himself either by word or promise to hear us nor accept us in a formal way of worship of men's devising, but according to his own institution, for God is not worshipped, but when it is his will to accept of our worship, and it is not his will to accept of our worship, but when it is according to his own will and institution, and not according to our will and devising, for what God hath not instituted, he will not accept of in any part of his worship, therefore we ought not to add nor diminish from Christ's institution, though our pretences seem never so plausible in the conceit of men.  
It was the real intention of the Israelites to worship the God of their Forefathers in the Golden Calf, and is was the intention of Jeroboam to do the like in the Calves at Dan and Bethel, and yet the holy Ghost gives his judgement upon them, that the Israelites worshipped the Molten Image, Psal. 106.19. And that Jeroboam sacrificed to the Calves that he had made, 1 King. 12.32. The reason why their worship was esteemed the worship of the Calves was, because they worshipped according to their own invention, and not according to God's divine institution, as in Psal. 106.39. They were defiled with their own works and went a Whoring with their own inventions, and can any Prelate give a reason why they might not as well worship after their own inventions as our Bishops and Prelates may worship after their own inventions and compel others to worship so too, was such a worship counted Idolatry in them, and will it not be counted Idolatry in us, what assurance can our Bishops give us to the contrary that in so worshipping we shall not be Idolaters by their invented way of worshipping an Idol.  
For thus you see, that to worship according to men's inventions, it is by the holy Ghost counted Idolatry, therefore if you would have a right reformation, and a right conformity and unity in the Church in Religion, the right way to do it is to compel the Bishops and Prelates especially, and all others to conform themselves to the rules and institutions of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. And this belongs especially to the King to cause it to be done, for he beareth not the Sword in vain, saith the Apostle, he is the Minister of God for good to those that do well, and for terror to those that do evil, for saith the Text, He is God's Minister attending continually upon this very thing, Rom. 13. to verse the 7. He primarily hath power given him of God to break the power of wicked usurping Prelates and their carnal traditions and cannons, except by conniving at their usurped wickedness, we endanger ourselves to partake with them in their punishments, which God forbidden.  
Again when God is adored and worshipped according to men's invention, the worshippers are said to forget God, Psal. 106.21. though they think that they well remember him, the reason is because they forget his Commandments and institutions, for God commandeth that we shall not add nor diminish from his institutions, Deut. 4.2. Nor turn aside to the right hand or to the left, Deut. 28.14. And that if we do turn aside, all the curses from verse 15. to the 68 shall come upon thee, and over take thee, for those that worship with a devised worship of their own invention, they do also worship a devised God of their own invention, for such as the worship is, such is the God that is worshipped: The Samaritans worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and yet Christ saith of them, ye worship ye know not what, because they worshipped the true God in a way devised by men, God's worship must be according to this nature, Heavenly, Divine, and Spiritual, but all devised worship is according to the nature and disposition of the deviser, foolish, carnal, and vain, as Christ saith, In vain do they worship me, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men, Mat. 15.9 God will not have nor accept of any worship but such as himself hath appointed, men's intention to worship God is nothing, unless they worship him according to his own will and appointment.  
It is said 1 Cor. 10.20. The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice unto Devils and not to God, and yet the wiser sort of the Gentiles, their intention was to sacrifice unto God in Images, and the Children of Israel who by the Commandment of God were to offer sacrifices unto the Lord yet they might not offer their sacrifices in every place as Deut. 12.13. Nor in any City or Field, but in the place which the Lord had chosen, namely at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, as in Leviticus 17.3, 4, 5. They must neither sacrifice any thing but what God had appointed to be sacrificed, nor in any other place but where God appointed, for if they did their sacrifice was accounted as sacrificing unto Devils. Leviticus 17. and 7. and in Deut. 32.17, 18. They sacrifice unto Devils, not to God, and forget God that form them; now if the not observing of the place appointed for to sacrifice in did make such a difference, that the sacrifice offered in one place was accepted as offered unto God, and the same sacrifice offered in another place appointed by men and not where God had appointed made the sacrifice to be reputed as offering sacrifice unto Devils as these Texts and others do prove.  
Then is not this sufficient to convince any reasonable man, that to alter and change the worship of God from the rules and institutions of Christ to the rules and Cannons of men's devising, and to force men so to worship, doth make a greater difference in the worship of God, than in the time of the Law to offer the same sacrifice in any other place but where God had appointed it to be sacrificed, and yet the very alteration and change of the place made the same thing sacrificed to be esteemed the sacrificing unto Devils, and not to God, have we not need then to take care that we keep close to the rules and institutions of Christ? I beseech all, especially those who would have us to worship after the precepts and Commandments of men, to consider this, and to remember what our Saviour Christ saith, In vain do they worship me, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men, Mat. 15.9.  
Christ saith, Matth. 11.29. Take my yoke upon you, now this yoke of Christ is, subjection to God's word and will, and such as do not worship him according to his word and will, but according to their own will and human devices and traditions, such persons casts off the yoke of Christ, and deny their subjection to him, which is the property of wicked men, and is as much as if they should say, who is the Almighty that we should serve, or be subject unto him, for true subjection is a resignation of ourselves to the will and word of God; and that in all things and this is the right serving of God.  
Mr. Perkins saith, Page. 699. That nothing may go under the name and worship of God, which God hath not ordained in his word and commanded us as his own worship, for when the Jews worshipped God after the devised fashion of the Gentiles, though their meaning was to worship nothing but God, yet they worshipped nothing but Devils, saith he; for all voluntary Religion and will worship is utterly condemned, therefore nothing may go under the name of God's worship, but what God hath prescribed for the rule of divine worship, is not the will of him that worshippeth, but the will of him that is worshipped.  
Again, if there be such a God, who will be worshipped according to the traditions and devices of men and hath promised his presence to hear and answer us in such a way of worship, than he hath either revealed himself, that he will hear us and accept us in such a way or he hath not revealed himself, let the Bishops and Prelates show us the Scripture, where God hath promised his presence to hear and accept us in a way of worship of man's devising, and let the Commandment be showed that bindeth us to worship so, but if the Bishops and Prelates cannot show us any such Commandment that bindeth us so to worship, nor show, us any promise of God's presence to hear and accept of us in such a way, than ought not the Prelates to force us to such a kind of worship, neither ought we to obey them, nor have we any promise to ground our faith upon, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin, Rom. 14.23. Radulph calls it Idolatry in manners to prefer the creature before the Creator, and so in Prelates to prefer their Canons and Inventions before the Canons of Scripture, and institutions of Jesus Christ.  
We all know that under the Law God required that Sacrifice Oblations and Incense should be offered unto him, but when they did not observe God's way and order which he had ordained and appointed, how they should be offered, but devised a way of their own, you shall hear what the Prophet Isaiah saith of such a devised worship, Isa. 66.3. He that killeth an Ox, is as if he flew a man, he that sacrificeth a Lamb is as if he cut off a Dog's neck, he that offereth an Oblation as if he offered Swine's blood, and he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idol, God esteemeth no better of men's devised way of worship, as appears in the latter part of the verse. (viz.) They have chosen their own way, etc. Hence we may take notice how dangerous a thing it is for any, either to do it themselves, or to enjoin others to worship God in a way of men's devising by humane traditions and Ceremonies and not to keep close to the rules and institutions of Christ, for Christ is the alone Sovereign Governor and Lawgiver to prescribe Laws and rules to his Church, how he will be worshipped, he will have no fellows nor partners joined with him in that work, and Christian Magistrates have power and authority given them by Christ, to command their Subjects and all under them to observe the rules and institutions of Christ, and that they turn not aside to the right hand or to the left, for Christ saith, in vain do they worship him, that worship him according to the Commandments of Men.  
But perhaps some men may think, that men may prescribe rules for the outward form and duties of God's worship by the example of David, in 1 Chron. who ordered the courses of the Priests and Levites, etc. How they should serve in the temple when Solomon had built it, and gave the pattern thereof unto Solomon. But with submission to better judgements, I think David did not that as he was a King only, but as he was a Prophet and received the pattern thereof form God by his spirit, for so he saith, 1 Chron. 28.12. He gave to Solomon the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, and in verse 19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me even all the works of this pattern.  
Some men think it a matter of nothing to frame a form of worship of their own devising, and think that God will be satisfied and well pleased therewith, whereas God will accept of no worship neither for matter nor manner but what he hath instituted as you may see in Levit. 10.1. Nadab and Abihu, they thought it no great matter to take common fire, instead of fire from the altar to offer incense with unto the Lord, and yet for this very thing in not observing God's appointment, in the manner of their burning of incense, there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them that they died, verse 2. For God will be sanctified, saith Moses, in them that come nigh unto him, ver. 3. This may teach all generations to the end of the world, how jealous God is in every part of his worship, that it be performed according to his own institutions without alteration, or adding or diminishing after the devises of men, and shows us what need there is in reforming the Church, to make the word of God our Rule.  
Hence it will follow that those that decline and forsake the means appointed us of God, for our edification and salvation, to embrace other means prescribed by men, or to mix them with the institutions of Christ, how specious soever they seem to be in our eyes, and carnally flattering to be of more strength and efficacy to attain the end, yet they cannot, because they want the seal of divine approbation upon them, they will fail, as it is said of King Ahaz in his distress, he sent for Tilgath Philazer King of Assyria for to help him, and he came unto him, but distressed him, and helped him not, 2 Chron. 28.20.21. For unto the wicked, God said, what hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my word behind thee. Psal. 50.16.17. If thou wilt not be reform to observe the Law of Christ thou hast no right nor authority from Christ to preach his Law nor to take his covenant in thy mouth.  
Holingshead. Holinshed in his History of Scotland, pag. 183. saith that the superfluous possessions of the Church as they are now used are not only occasions to evil Prelates to live in most insolent pomp and corrupt life, but is as a N●t to draw Gold and Silver out of the Realm.  
The Nobles of Bohemia in the council of Basil propounded 20. Articles against the Prelates, of which there was four, which they said they would maintain until death, and one of those four was that the Pope, the Prelates and Clergy from the highest to the lowest, their temporal possessions and riches ought to be taken from them, and that they ought to be made poor as the Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ was, who had no possessions in this world, neither worldly power, for the Clergy are but Administrators or Stewards of the temporalities of the Church for the use of the poor, and what temporalities the Clergy hath that doth not belong to the poor they have gotten by false indirect ways, either by promising that their prayers and masses should deliver the Souls of those that gave such Lands, out of purgatory, which they never could nor never can do, and therefore the condition failing, the Lands ought to return into the hands and possession of the King and Nobles, who are the successors of them that gave them, or else some of those Lands were gotten, by curse and excommunications, as Pope Gregory the ninth excommunicated Frederick the Emperor until he gave one hundred and twenty thousand ounces of Gold for his absolution, in Mr. prynn's book of the rebellion, conspiracies, treasons and seditions of Bishops, between page 293. and 298, you may read that the Bishops of Landusse from time to time excommunicated 7 or 8. Kings, and 12 other of the Gentry, and some gave 2. some 3. or 4. or 5. pieces of Land to the Bishops for their absolutions, and this was one way how bishops and Prelates come by their temporalities, and therefore the King and Lords, etc. may justly take their unjust got lands from them and make them more conformable to Christ and his Apostles.  
Arch bishop of St. Andrews his Recantation And to show the unlawfulness both of bishop's temporalities and jurisdictions, some of the bishops when they were in their right wits recanted, as Patrick Adamson, Archbishop of St. Andrews in Scotland, made his Recantation in the Synod of Fife. April the 8. 1591. in these words following I confess with a sincere mind, without colour or fraud, that I have formerly erred in this, that I thought the Government of the Church to be like the Regiment of Terrene Kingdoms, expressly against the precept of Christ our Lord, and that the monarchy whereby the Church is governed did not rest in the person of Christ our Saviour alone, as it doth in truth, but likewise in the Ministers, who yet are nothing else but vassals and Clerks under Christ and equal among themselves, and lastly, I confess that the office of a bishop as now it is used and claimed is destitute from all authority from God's word, and founded only upon the politic device of men, out of which the primacy of the Pope or Ante-christ is sprung, and it is deservedly to be condemned, etc.  
bishop of Dunkel his recantation. In like manner Alexander Lindsay bishop of Dunkell in the year, 1639. did also make his recantation at St. Andrews the 24 of January, as he had formerly done at Glascow the 21 of November, where he did freely submit himself, and lay down saith he my pretended office of Episcopacy as pretended bishop of Dunkell, and declare the said office of Episcopacy as it hath been used in the church of Scotland, to be adjured by the confession of faith, therefore wit ye me to have demitted quite claim, etc. the foresaid pretended office of Episcopacy of Dunkel, with the whole title, stile, name, and dignity thereof, power of ordination, jurisdiction, voice in Parliament and all usurpation of the same in time to come, and do faithfully promise, and by these presents bind and oblige me never to exercise nor use the said pretended office, nor any other power ecclesiastical, belonging, usurped, or claimed to belong to the same pretended office, which I acknowledge aught to be abjured and removed, and the whole premises I hearty acknowledge as I will answer to God, in testimony hereof I have subscribed these presents with my hand, &c,  
The bishop of Orkneys recantation.  
Bishop of Orkneys recantation. To all and sundry whom it may concern, to whose knowledge these presents shall come especially to the reverend and honourable members of the future assembly to be holden at Edinburgh the 12 day of August. 1639. I Mr. George Gryame's sometime pretended Bishop of Orkneys being sorry and grieved at my heart that I should ever for my worldly respect embrace the order of Episcopacy, the same having no warrant from the word of God, and being such an order as hath had sensibly many fearful and evil consequencies depending on it in many parts of Christendom, and particularly within the Kirk of Scotland, as by doleful and deplorable experience this day is manifest, to have disclaimed, like as I do by the tenor hereof altogether disclaim and abjure all Episcopal power and jurisdiction with the whole corruptions thereof etc. promising and swearing by the great name of the Lord our God that I shall never while I live directly or indirectly exercise any such power within the Kirk, neither yet shall I ever approve or allow the same, not so much as in my private or public discourse etc. and shall Concur to the uttermost of my power sincerely and faithfully in advancing the work of Reformation within this Land to the glory of God, the peace of the Country and the comfort and contentment of all good Christians as God shall be my help: In testimony of which premises I have subscribed these presents with my hand before these witnesses etc.  
Now to conclude; John Huss a Martyr at constancy, he prophesied that the light of the Gospel should break out a hundred years after his death, which was fulfilled in Luther, whom God stirred up a hundred years after, there is another Ancient Prophecy which some think was by John Huss also, which Prophecy is, That the Church cannot be reduced to its former dignity and reform until all things be made new, the former dignity of the Church is, to have the same Officers for quality that Christ and his Apostles instituted, and to have Episcopacy and all the rabble depending thereon, plants which our heavenly Father hath not planted, rooted up, for so long as they stand the Church cannot be reduced to its former dignity, neither in doctrine nor discipline, because these Church Officers, as they are esteemed, are not of God, but usurpers and other the like in the Roman Church, who are not of Gods, but of human institution, they mix their human devices with the Laws and institutions of Christ, and so defile and pollute the Ordinances of Christ, much like unto those Nations which Sholmanezer King of Assyria placed in the Cities of Samaria, every Nation made Gods of their own and yet it is said of them that they feared the Lord and served their own Gods, 2 Kings 17.29 33. Just so the Pope and Prelates make Gods of their own, or devise a way of their own to worship God by, which is all one, for a devised worship of men, which Christ hath nor appointed may justly in Scripture fence be said to be an Idol worship, and so they may be said to fear the Lord and serve or worship their own Gods or Idols, a worship of their own making; for did ever Heathen dote more upon their Idols, than Popes and Prelates dotes on their own devised way of worship: ye shall saith Moses from God, walk after the Lord your God and keep his Commandments and obey his voice, and that Prophet or dreams of dreams shall be put to death that speaks to ●hou●● 〈◊〉 out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in, Deut. 13.4, 5. What then shall be done to those dreaming drones that not only speak but make Laws and command God's people to turn out of the way that Christ hath appointed them to walk in, to have them to walk in the Ceremonial ways and appointments of men. This doth imply as much as to say, go and serve other Gods, serve him with a worship which he hath not appointed, for to be compelled by Laws and penalties to leave the Commandments of Christ, to follow the Commandments of men, is no other than to serve other Gods, the Lord saith, that such an one, if it be a Brother, a Son or a Daughter, or a Wife, thine eye shall not pity, neither shalt thou spare nor conceal, but thou shalt kill him, thou shalt stone him with stones that he die, because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God, ver. 8.10.  
The Lord threatened by the Prophet Zeph. that he would cut off Man and beast, and the stumbling block with the wicked and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham, Zeph. 1.3.5. To swear by the Lord in truth in judgement and in righteosness as Jer. 4.2. Being Lawfully called to swear, it is one part of God's worship, but to swear by Malcham or other things is Idolatrous, for so the thing that is sworn by is made an Idol and set in God's stead and honour given unto it as to be the searcher of the heart and to witness that, what is sworn is truth, and so it is in other parts of God's worship, if we keep not close to God's word, but devise a way of worship which Christ hath not prescribed, it is Idolatrous as well as to swear by Malcham, it is the stumbling block of the wicked, for diminish aught from his word, which also is to be understood of his worship, for it is not found in the Scripture that Christ hath given power to any man or men to add or diminish to any part of his worship from his institutions either in the old Testament or the New, to swear by Malcham etc. The thing that is sworn and affirmed may be true and yet the oath is sinful and Idolatrous, because it is not God's way that he hath instituted that oaths should be given and taken, God saith of the Rebellious and wicked Jews, though they swear the Lord liveth surely they swear falsely, why so, because their swearing was vain and customary and not in such a way as God had appointed oaths to be taken, and therefore he reckoned it a false oath though the thing they swore was true: The Lord doth live, and so men may devise a way to worship God, and snatch here and there a sentence or two of Scripture and mangle it in pieces and then patch it together to make up a form to please themselves and it may be some others, and though the words for the matter of them are words of truth, yet this also is sinful as to swear by Malcham or as the wicked Jews to swear the Lord liveth, Because Christ hath not any where instituted such a way of worship to jumble a many texts fetched here and there together to make a form of worship, though the words themselves be good yet they were not ordained for such an end, nor we have neither precept nor example from Christ nor his Apostles so to use them, but from Antechrist the Pope such example may be taken by them that please; Conjurers, Witches and Charmers use or rather abuse good words, for they often times mutter over the Creed and our Lord's Prayer and several texts of Scripture to work their feats, but God hath not trusted us with the Scriptures for such ends especially not that those who can please themselves with such a form, should impose the same upon all others by penalties of imprisonment or banishment or the like as hath been done to some.  
And therefore it is impossible that ever there can be any right reformation or that the Church can be reduced to its primitive purity and dignity so long as the Bishops and Prelates bears such a sway both in the Church and Common wealth, until God put it into the hearts and minds of Kings, Princes, and Lord● etc. and to take away the temporalities and tyths from Bishops, Prelates, and Clergy which they have so long usurpingly and unjustly detained from the King and Nobles and not performed the conditions for which their predecessors gave them, and sacraligiously kept to their own use what was given for the use of the Poor, and so reduce them first to live after the examples of Christ and his Apostles according to the rule of the new Testament of Jesus Christ which is the thing I am now to show, and not after the example of Antechrist as now they do and will do if they may be suffered.  
It may rationally be imagined that the Prelates and Clergy will say, that if temporalities and tithes be taken from them how shall they then live.  
I answer, that such an objection will argue want of faith in the objector, for can they pretend that they can trust God with the salvation of their Souls, and can they not trust God with their bodies, for food and raiment in the way of God's appointment, unless they carve out a portion for themselves by dishonest gain, we must not presume to be wiser than God, to think that we can prescribe a better way for the maintenance of Gospel Ministers, than Christ hath prescribed to his Apostles, and they practised, indeed I confess that man's way to be maintained by Lands and Tithes is a fit way for Thiefs and Robbers that comes not in an the door by Christ into the Sheep-fold, but comes in at the Window or some other way by Anti-christs invention to rob and steal, as I knew a pretended Minister that said, he cared not if the Devil had the flock, so that he had the fleece, maintenance by Lands and Tithes are fit only for such and none else, and Christ's way of maintenance, which I shall show anon, is most fit for Christ's Ministers, who come into the Sheep-fold at the door by Christ, for such Ministers will neither teach nor provoke the people to any manner of Ceremonial worship, which they have not learned from Christ, and which he and his Apostles hath not instituted, neither will they presume to seek their maintenance in unwarrantable ways, contrary to the precepts and example of Christ and his Apostles, for if they do, they do thereby lay an imputation upon the wisdom and holiness of Christ, as if he had not in his word sufficiently provided for his own worship, and for their maintenance except men will presume to be wiser than God.  
If Ministers would approve themselves to be true Gospel Ministers of Jesus Christ, by following his example, and live as he lived, then here is an example for them to follow, first Christ was poor as to worldly things, for he saith of himself, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the Air have nests, but the Son of Man, who is also the Son of God, hath not where to lay his head, Mat. 8.20. but thus it pleased him to be an example of poverty and humility to all Gospel Ministers to follow his steps, that we by his poverty might be made rich in faith and good works.  
Secondly, he suffered hunger, and went to the Figtree expecting to find fruit thereon but found none, Mark 11.12.13. and at another time after his Resurrection he asked his Apostles, have ye here any meat, and they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honey comb, and he did eat, Luk. 24.42.43. Thirdly, he was wearied with travelling on foot, he had not his Coach and 4 or 6 horses as our Bishops have, you may know them by their fruits, whether they belong to Christ or Anti-christ, Christ was also thirsty, and asked water of a woman to drink, Joh. 4.6.7. but our Prelates drinks the best Wines. Fourthly, Christ had his maintenance by the charitable bounty and benevolence of the people, amongst whom was Mary Magdalen, and Joanna the Wife of Chusa Herod's Steward, and Susanna and many others who ministered to him of their substance, Luke 8.3. And this is the way that Christ hath ordained should have their maintenance, namely by the bountiful and charitable devotion of the people unto whom they minister, Learn of me saith Christ, for I am meek and lowly in hear, and ye shall find rest to your Souls, for the Disciple is not above his Master, nor the Servant above his Lord, Mat. 10.24. If Christ were so poor, why should Prelates and Priests be so rich, if Christ and his Apostles suffered hunger and thirst as Paul saith of himself and the rest of the Apostles, 1. Cor. 4.11. That they did both hunger and thirst and were naked and buffeted, and had no certain dwelling place, why then should Prelates and Priests be so full and so gorgeously apparelled and have such stately palaces settled on them for their lives. If Christ and his Apostles were wearied with travelling on foot, as Paul faith, 2 Cor. 11.27. That he was often in weariness and painfulness, etc. Why should Prelates and Priests have their Coaches and great horses, and if Christ and his Apostles had their maintenance by the charitable devotion of the people, why should Prelates and Priests have such large revenues of temporalities and tithes, this is to make the Disciple above his Master and the Servant above his Lord, contrary to the words of Christ, Mat. 10.24.  
For according to this example, when Christ sent forth his twelve Apostles to preach, he commanded them, and in them all others that are right Gospel Ministers, saying, Provide neither Gold nor Silver nor Brass in your Purses, nor Scrip for your journey, neither two Coats etc. for the workman is worthy of his meat, Mat. 10.9.10. and in Luk. 10.7. Eat and drink such things as they give, but Christ did not bid them, if the people did not give, that they should take it by force of Law, as the practice of Prelates and Priests is, whereby they, like the Sons of Eli, make the offering to be abhorred, this is not Christ's but Anti-christs way for maintenance of ministers, Christ only bids the Apostles, that those who would not receive them, to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them, but yet with this threatening, that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgement, than for those people that receive not Gods messengers, nor allows them not maintenance out of their substance. Thus you see men are bound under pain of damnation, to give Christ's Ministers sufficient maintenance, for God hath ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn, for saith Paul, if we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things, 1 Cor. 9.9.11.14. And yet this must not be exacted by Law or constraint, but as a matter of bounty, that every man as he purposeth in his heart, so saith the Apostle, Let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver, 2 Cor. 9.7. but this I say, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully, God will prosper his endeavours so much the more.  
If Churches might have leave from the supreme magistrates according to the word of God to elect and choose their own ministers, then as Paul saith, If any provide not for their own, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidel, 1 Tim. 5.8. for their choosing of him to be their pastor, makes him to be related to them as one of their house, and as he lays out his time and strength and talent for the good of the Church, so the Church should jointly make provision for him and his family for the things of this life, that as he sows unto them spiritual things so he ought to reap their carnal things, and this is not a matter of liberty or courtesy which may be done or left undone, but it is a duty, a work of justice unto which the Church is called and bound in conscience to perform, so that provision in this kind is wages and not benovolence, so when Christ sent forth his Apostles, he bids them not to be solicitous for relief, for the workman is worthy of his wages, Luke 10.7.  
The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 9 determines this by the verdict of all Laws, look at the law of nature, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the Ox, etc. Look at the Law of Nations who goeth a warfare a● his own charge, look at the Law of God, he hath ordained that those who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel, this is the way to make good and laborious Ministers, for no preaching, no wages and this wages ought to be so plentiful and comfortable, col ected by the people and given to the minister that he may employ his time, his strength and study, and attend upon the work of the Lord without distraction, 1 Cor. 7.35. For if he should be straitened so as to be put to bestow his time and thought on the week days to provide Bread for his family, how shall he be able to provide spiritual food for the Church upon the Lord's day.  
And such Ministers as can live by faith in a holy dependence upon Christ's promise, that in seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness thereof, that all other things shall be added. Mat. 6.33. No doubt but God will both open the hearts and hands of the people to give bountifully unto such Ministers; And indeed, he that is a right Gospel Minister called of God to his Office, his faith will bear him up against all difficulties and opposition whatsoever, with the Prophet Habbakkuk, who said, although the Figtree should not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the Vine, the labour of the Olive shall fail, and the Fields shall yield no meat, the Flock shall be cut off from the Fold, and there shall be no Herd in the Stalls, yet saith he I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. 3.17, 18.  
Now as touching the order how this maintenance may be raised for the Ministers, there is one text most pregnant and carries most conclusive evidence to direct and determine in this case, Gala. 6.6. let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things, that is of all good things that is communicable, and may Lawfully be communicated, A man may have one room to lodge in, one servant to attend him, one Coat to cover him, so much provision as will only supply his own necessity, and these cannot be made common.  
But whatsoever good things we may make common, if we have to serve ourselves and to spare, every man should communicate according to his place and portion, that God hath bestowed upon him, whether Money, Corn, Cattle, the Fruit of Orchards, Gardens, Wool, Flax, or Clothing for him and his, etc. whatsoever may be either for necessity, or comfort, that God casts in occasionally which may be communicated, they should give some part thereof, towards the maintenance of their Ministers, yet this is not to be levied by compulsion, but every man is to give as God shall enlarge their hearts, and open their hands to so good a work, for he that Soweth liberally shall Reap liberally, and he that Soweth sparingly shall Reap sparingly, he that giveth saith Paul let him do it with simplicity or liberally, and he that showeth mercy with cheerfulness, 1 Tim. 6.8. And our Saviour saith give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, etc. Luk. 6.38. And as he said in another case, freely ye have received, freely give, for whatsoever we have it is the gift of God, charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, 1. Tim. 6.17. And if we use not well what he hath given us, he can when he will take it from us, unless he give it as a snare to try how men will use it.  
This I conceive to be the Gospel rule for maintenance for Ministers, that every one that is taught in the word, aught to communicate to him that teacheth according to their ability this may be further enlarged upon if there be occasion, but there is another Gospel duty which is too much neglected, and that is the ministering to the poor Saints, which was so frequently and so liberally used in the Apostles days, that Paul in 2 Cor. 9.1. said as touching the ministering to the Saints, it was superfluous for him to write unto them, for he knew the forwardness of their minds to that duty, for he had in his former Epistle given them direction, how this duty should be performed in 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. Now concerning the collection for the Saints, as I have given order to the Churches of Gallatia, even so do ye, upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him that their be no gathering when I come. The giving of alms is a duty well pleasing to God, to do good and to distribute forget not, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased. And Solomon saith there is that scattereth and yet increaseth, and there is that with holdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty the liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself, Prov. 11.24, 25. again he saith, cast thy bread upon the waters thou shalt find it after many days, by waters is meant peoples and multitudes, as in Rev. 17.15. Give a potion to seven and also to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon earth, Eccles. 11.1, 2. Some have thought that this collection ought to be the tenth part of every man's profit, but whether it be so or not, this the Scriptures assure us off, that he which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully, 2 Cor. 6.6. as it is written, he hath dispersed and given to the Poor, his righteousness remaineth for ever, Psal. 112.9.   
FINIS.