The Brownists Conventicle:  
Or an assemble of Brownists, Separatists, and Nonconformists, as they met together at a private house to hear a Sermon of a brother of theirs near Algate, being a learned feltmaker.  
Containing the whole discourse of his Exposition, with the manner and form of his preaching, praying, giving thanks before and after Dinner and Supper, as it was lately heard and now discovered by a brother of theirs who is turned out of their Society upon some discontent, to be buffeted by Satan.  
His Auditors were Button-makers, translators, Weavers, boxmakers, with divers other holy Brethren and Sisters.  
Printed 1641.   

The Brownists Conventicle.  
Containing their manner and form of their preaching, praying, eating, and drinking, &c.  
Heretics, schismatics, novelists, separatists, have been in all ages, and long before the Gospel was preached: there were amongst the Jews a Sect who called themselves Abel●sts, of Abel the Proto-Martyr of the world, who required such chastity in marriage, that they would admit of no congress, or mutual consociety betwixt man and wife: but it was an heresy suddenly set up, and as soon suppressed. The Essees, or Esseans, retired themselves to solitude, and separated themselves from the Congregations, who were abstemious in their diet, and strict and austere in all their deportments, harmless to others, only rigid to themselves, in so much that it is observed, that our Saviour was silent concerning them, when he so severely reproved the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadduces. The Pharisees strived to come near to the Law, and were a strict and exact Sect, but corrupt both in their doctrine, demeanour, and conversations. The Sadduces were but few, but those great and rich men, who were of a more obtuse and stupid apprehension, denying the resurrection.  
To come to our own home, almost in every domestic Diocesian Parish, we have novelists, some Thraskites, or Sabbaterians, Banisterians, Brownists, and Anabaptists, which puts me in mind of a young Lubber of that Sect, who being brought as a witness to take his oath in Court, and the Judge by accident asking of what age he was? who answered him, that he was 3 years old. Three years old (Replied the Judge) and no more? how can that possibly be, seeing thou art of that full growth and bigness? Who answered him gain Uerily I reckon mine age but from the time since I was last baptised. Then we have your Familists: but of all the rest which is of greatest remark, there is sprung up a new Sect of Adamists, who take their denomination from our first father Adam, and these with men and women promiscuously mingled, have their private meetings, where they will not hear the Word preached, nor have the Sacrament administered unto them, but naked, not so much as fig-leave breeches upon them, thinking thereby to imitate our first Parents in their innocency. Some of these Separatists have their Conventions within the walls of the City. Others have made their assembly in the fields, some in woods, and upon Highgate and Hamsted hills, and such like places. In some families the women catechise and preach, making the back side of her gro●ning chair the Pulpit, their prayers being unpremeditate and without precedent; for nothing can pass muster, which proceeds from their mouths, which is not extravagant ex tempore. Nay, some most profanely, I may say blasphemously, have been heard to say, that they could make a better prayer than that which our Saviour himself taught to his Disciples.  
Further, these our Sectaries will endure no degrees in schools, all learning must be laid by, academies are to them abominable, thereby cohering with the grand Adversary of our Christian saith the Turk, who will suffer no University thorough his whole Deminions: All his Creatures must be soldiers, no scholars, nor suffered to meddle with the Koran, but the Mufti, and those idolatrous flamens belonging to the Order: nay, herein they punctually comply with the Papists, whose doctrine they pretend utterly to abhor; who hold that Ignorance is the mother of Devotion. And of these opinions was How, the notorious Predicant cobbler, whose body was buried in the high way by Dame Agnes á clear, and his funeral Sermon preached by one of his Sect in a brewer's Cart. Such an Anti-Bishop was Eton, the famous Button-maker in Saint martin's, and a shoemaker that dwelled betwixt Paul's chain and Old Fish-street, whose name I remember not, and now the only famous seeming Predicants are one Greene a Felt-make, and a fellow who was once a servingman. To rip up all the whole rabble, would take up too great time, and blot too much paper.  
Hence come those violent outrages, and sacrilegious disorders committed in the Church, even in the time of Divine Service, and hubbub, and strange tumults raised, where nothing but reverent silence ought to be used, by laying violent hands upon the Minister, rending his Master of Arts hood from his neck, and tearing the Surplice to filters upon his back, he hardly scaping from being torn piece meal in his own person, and this even when the psalm was singing, and the Preacher ready to go up to deliver his Sermon, as like wise rending the rails from before the Communion Table, and then chopping them in pieces, and burning them in the churchyard, and this to be riotously done wit●out authority, commission, or order. But when any man shall take upon him a further power than peaceable Justice requireth, he perisheth from the Church; and whilst he proudly lifts up himself, branded with his own arrogant presumption, he is bereft of the light of the truth.  
And now of late lest these supermysticall Sectists should be wanting in the Land, there is lately come over from New England, as from a New Jerusalem, one Samuel Eton a Minister, who preached at Saint John's Church in Chester, that the very names of Parsons and vicars were Antichristian, that pastors and Teachers of particular Congregations, must be chosen by the people, that all human inventions, in which he comprehends the book of Common Prayer, &c. are to God unsavoury and loathsome, that all ecclesiastical censures of Excommunication, and the like, aught to be exercised by particular Congregations within themselves: he further denies all national, provincial, and Diocesian Churches, &c. And further, at Knutsford, a Market town in the same county, that every particular Congregation is an absolute Church, and it is to have all Ordinances and Officers within itself, that the members thereof must be only Saints, who must enter into covenant amongst themselves, and no covenant no Church, and that it was a grievous sin to be present where Prayers were read out of any book whatsoever, either by the Minister or any other, &c. Two or three hours did our learned feltmaker preach, and declare himself to his dear brethren and good sisters, which expressions took very well. And these are they that prate, not preach, like men raptured with their own spiritual nonsense. I cannot stand upon the miserable inconveniences depending upon this fantastical doctrine, of which I could wish there were not so many simple seduced Disciples.  
Now all these Innovators in general, are Arch-enemies to Lent, saints' Eves, Ember weeks, Fast days, and Good Fridays. Imagine their Exercise is done, and high time to go to refresh themselves; this holy brother which preached this and the like sort of Doctrine, was envited to another brother's house to dinner, which was there present, and being come and meat set upon the table, and all the Saints set at board, he began to say Grace, which is to this effect, having first surveyed every dish, and in what order it was placed at the board, he began his thanksgiving as followeth.  

The Grace before Dinner.  
COrroborate these thy good gifts unto our use, I beseech thee good Father, and make us thankful for all these thy bountiful blessings upon this board, to nourish our corrupt bodies. These are boiled Chickens (I take it) let this dish of Chickens put us in mind of our Saviour, who would have gathered Jerusalem together as an Hen gathereth her chickens, but she would not: but let us praise God for these chickens, which are set before us, being six in number. Let this leg of Mutton call us to remembrance, that King David was once a Shepherd; and so was Christ the son of David. that good Shepherd, who having an hundred sheep, and losing one, to find that left ninety and nine in the wilderness. Here is an excellent loin of veal, let that prompts us to remember the Parable of the prodigal child, whom to welcome home, the Father caused the fat calf to be killed, which I think could not yield a better rump and kidney than is now visible before our eyes. And by this crammed and well fed capon, let us be mindful of the cock, which crowed three times, when Peter had as often denied his Master, for which he went out and wept bitterly. These rabbits re collect us to think (having worn fur upon their backs) of the two wicked Elders, that lay in wait to betray the chastity of Susanna: but I fear I have too much over-shot myself in alleging any example out of the profane Apocrypha. What see I there? a Potato pie, and a salad of asparagus, these are stirring meats, and provocations to procreation, by which good God, we desire thee that according to thy blessings to our first parents in Paradise, we may increase and multiply. And when that Gamond of Westphalia Bacon comes to be cut up, let us think of that herd of Swine, into which by the permission of our Saviour the Devils entered, and from an high rock hurried them headlong into the sea. And as for these thy good blessings that are from the land, so likewise make us thankful for this thy bounty sent us from the sea, and first for this ●ole of Sturgeon, and let it so far edify in us, as to think how great that whale's head was, which swallowed the Prophet Jonas, and kept him three days and nights in his belly. And though these Lobsters seem to be in red coats like Cardinals, having claws like Usurers, and more horns than the Beast of Rome, which is the Whore of Babylon; yet having taken off their papistical copes and cases, let us freely feed upon what is within; for God regardeth not the outside, but the inside of man. I conclude with the fruit, which may it by thy grace so fructify in our hearts, that these Pippins may put us in mind of the Apple of the forbidden Tree, which our Grand mother Eve (by the temptation of the Serpent) tasted in the middle of the Garden. For had she not, vild wretch, eaten the forbidden apple, all our Crabs had been very good Pippins, and all our Thistles had been very good hartichoaks. And these caraways call to our remembrance that Manna which was like Coriander seed, by which the children of Israel were fed forty years together in the wilderness. Thus as briefly as I can, I have gone thorough every dish on the board, for every sundry dish ought to have a several blessing. And now let us fall too, and feed exceedingly, that after our full repast, we may the bettor prophecy.   
Then falling to, and feeding lustily, and dinner being ended, another began his Grace after meat, as followeth.  

The Grace after meat.  
We thank thee, good Lord, that as thou hast sufficiently satisfied these our bodies with the blessings of the earth, so thou hast the like care to feed our souls with the spiritual food of Heaven: And in this our thanksgividing, let us remember all the blessed pastors and professors, whether in Amsterdam or elsewhere: but especially the Ministers of the Church in New England, the New Jerusalem, as Master Samuel Eton, lately come from thence, and the rest, with all our brethren and sisters, the Saints there, that little flock, of which our Saviour speaks in the gospel, fear not little flock, who forsoking, and utterly renouncing all the profane and papistical ceremonies here at home, have left the Land, to profess the more pure and sincere truth and doctrine abroad; as also for the separated Saints here amongst us, the Elders and Deacons of our Cougregations wheresoever assembled, whether in any private houses within the city, or in any Cow-house, barn, or Stable without the walls or whether in the fields, woods, or groves, wheresoever the holy Assembly is convented and gathered. As for the profane Churches, in which Idols have been formerly worshipped, and Copes and Surplices (the garments of the great Babylonish Whore) are still worn, we utterly abhor them: Neither let us forget that holy and good man's precepts, who never spoke unto us but with a great measure of the Spirit, I mean Master How the cobbler; nor those Christian admonitions which were broken unto us by the breath of Master Eton, the Button-maker in Saint martin's: nor those godly instructions which issued from the mouth of Master Greene the feltmaker, with all the rest of their sanctified Society: As also for all our she fellow-Labourers in this our holy and good work, I mean those blessed and fruit-bearing women, who are not only able to talk on any Text, but search into the deep sense of the Scripture, and preach both in their owns families and else where. Whom though Saint Paul forbade to preach in the Church, yet he left them liberty to preach in the chambers: nay, we all therefore, both brethren and sisters, so use our Talents together, that the brethren may be daily regenerate and new borne, and the sisters so labour in their several vocations, that it may be the increase and multiplying of these thy Saints, Amen.   
After which they prepared for their after-noons Exercise. You have heard what doctrine hath been preached by Master Samuel Eton and others in the country, now you shall hear part of a Sermon preached, which was by one of the Elders, who was picked out for that day's Exercise, who took his Text the 12. of the Revelation, the 7 verse: And there was a battle in heaven, Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon, &c. Grace & peace be multiplied. This Text dearly beloved brethren, and most dearly beloved sisters, may not unproperly be applied to these present times, and to acts late in agitation, here is a combat spoken of betwixt Michael and the Dragon: now my dear brethren and sisters; first, to inquire who is personated in Michael and his Angels, and who pointed at in the Dragon and his Angels. To save you men your looking, and you women your longing, I will tell you both, and that briefly thus. By this Michael and his Angels in my Text, is meant one particular Church, and peculiar Church: and you dear Saints of both sexes have been sensible, you know many years we have most miserably suffered in all servitude and slavery: Now by the Dragon, the holy Ghost labours to delineate unto the great Dragon and devil of Lambeth. I say unto you again brethren, wicked Angels are the Bishops Deans, Arch Deacons, Prebends, non residents, which live without the care and charge of souls; I could have expressed it in Latin, but I hold it to be the language of the beast of Rome, and therefore omit it as a Heathenish language: besides his other proctors, Prosectors, Pursuivants, Pariters, and all other his ecclesiastical Ministers and Officers. I had almost forgot his Advocates, Surrogates, with the Judges of his spiritual and Prerogative Courts, all which (brethren) are abhonomination in the eyes of the Lord & their very names stink in his nostrils: The Bishop's function, dear brethren, is an Anti-christian calling; & the Deans & prebends are the frogs & the locusts mentioned in the Revelation: There is none of these Bishops but hath a pope in their bellies: I will tell you, dear brethren, they be papists in grain; they are all of them unleavined souls, & now, I say, we have turned them over to be buffeted by the ugly fin Satan. What then shall we say of all his toys and popish trincats? his invention and innovations? Or what shall we think of their Altars, Images, unhallowed hoods, Surpleces and Coaps, with their unchristian cornered Caps: their Palls, Albs, Rochets, Crosiers, mitres, Crosses, with all their traditions, Ceremonies, and unsanctified Superstitions? What my brethren (my sisters not forgotten) are but as the very rags dropped from the whore of Babylon's rotten garments: nay, their cleanest washed surplese are at the best but like porters Frocks, which they wear when they carry burdens; and they appear in our eyes more slovenly and sluttish, than the very fulsome and foul smock she puts off when she shifts herself: nay, my dear brethren, there is another cross which stands in our way, and is an eyesore to our uprightness, that guilded idolatrous cross in Cheap side, which so many adore and reverence whe● they pass by it: then there is another cross, which is our ear-sore, as well as our eyesore, dear brethren, that is, those pipes, or Organs, as the reverend Scots Ministers call them; which makes more noise with their roaring, than all the Bulls of Bason did, when Og their King passed by them in triumph.  
What further may we liken that dogmatic Dragon to: this litigious Arch Priest of Lambeth, than to a tyrannical Nimrod, a proud Pharaoh, a politic Achitophel a wicked Haman, a cunning Caiphas, a juggling Pilot, a bloody minded Herod, a persecuting Saul, and though he were a bachelor, yet for a long time bore him as proudly as that Apocallypticall Beast of Rome with seven heads of impiety and ten horns of iniquity: for how hath he persecuted this little flock of ours? and when he would not be seen in it himself, be employed his apostatical agents to disturb us in our Conventicles, and debar us the liberty of our Consciences: and my dear brethren & beloved sisters, was not this the very device ofan old D●gon, nay of a venemoous dragon? and are not the Archbishops and Bishops, the very bulls of Bashan, their superior and inferior officials, and Officers, the great and little Foxes? Those that wait on them, are the Wolves that would worry the sheep and Lambs: and yet you see how in the end we that may be called the Michaelists, or Michaelitains, have in this great battatle late fought since the time of the Parliament, have subdued and overcome the Dragon and his Angels, so that their Court is no longer to be found at Lambeth●: so it is (according to my Text) no more to be found in Heaven.  
This Dragon, I say dear brethren, and beloved sisters, is that Nimrod of Lambeth, the great hunter, who with his bloodhounds hunted and chased us from one place to another. This was that proud Pharaoh, who would have us deliver up to the task masters the full tale of Brick, and yet would not allow us straw nor stubble to burn it. This is that politic Achitophel, who having missed of his designs, would saddle his ass (if he had it) and ride home to his house at Lambeth and hang himself. This is that wicked Haman, that would make havoc of all us poor Mordecais, and the whole Nation of us distressed Jews: (for I know there be some Christians and Sabaterians amongst us) but as he hath idolatrized in the high places, we hope to see him, like that Haman, mounted upon something fifty Cubits high. This is that cruel Herod, but more bloody hearted: he only slew the Babes and Sucklings but this Dragon woul● make slaughters of all of you, dear brothers and sisters, for which he shall be eaten up with the worms of his own Conscience. This is that Caiphas, that would cozen us of our lives. That Pilot that would give partial sentence against us; & that Saul before he was Paul) that would bring persecution amongst us, who are taken for the Olive-branches of the House of the Lord.  
And now where is their star-parlour, for Star-chamber I cannot call it: Chambers (as we all know) were made for rest and pleasure; but this was only for rigour and punishment: and where is now their High Commission Courts, by which the Saints hearts could not rest quiet in their bodies, nor their ears safe upon their heads? But some of his servants report that he was clear of all these; but dear brethren, and best beloved sisters, I will tell you of what he was clear: clear from all sincerity, virtue, and piety; clear from all charity, verity, and honesty: but he, with all the rest of the Archiepiscopacy, much contaminated with gormundizing and hypocrisy: But where are his full and surfeiting Tables, where he safe plentifully feeding, with his chaplains, gaping one at another: some gaping after fat bits, others after fat Benefices, they aspiring to the highest degrees after the Prelacy, and he alike ambitious after the Papacy.  
But what is now (my dear brothers, and sweet sisters) become of their vehement Orations, their demonicall disputations? their syllogistical examinations? their logical Interpretations? their erroneous Equivocations? their mental Reservations? and their injust Condemnations of us that are the flock of the faithful, and the only reserved to eternal Salvation? what I say, but that this great Dragon, and his Angels shall be precipitated to perdition, be hurried to the inferior parts of the earth, which is also called Hell, and Gehimon, and the tormenting Tophet, to which we also leave them, with all their prelatical trash and popish trumperles.