The Arraignment of SUPERSTITION, OR A DISCOVERSE Between a Protestant, a Glazier, and a Separatist. Concerning The pulling down of Church-Windowes. Showing, The good mind of the Protestant, the Indifferency of the Glazier, and the purity and zeal of the Separatist. London, Printed for T. B. and F. C. 1641. A Dialogue or discourse between a Protestant, a Glazier, and a Separatist. Separatist. Come honist Glazier, we must crave your aid To help us pull these popish windows down, And set new glass for which you shall be paid, For sure the Lord on us for them doth frown And truly brethren should we let them stand, I fear 'twill bring a terror to this land. Glazier. I hope not so Sir, these are ancient things That long have stood in former ages passed Since Churches were, at least, since Christian Kings Had government, they still in Churches last, Lest by mishap some cracks or pieces shattered, But now it seems they all must down be battered Separatist. What should they else, they do but bar the light The Lord hath sent, and trouble much our sight That scarce at noon day we can see to read The holy Bible for the paint and lead, 'Tis like a popish tabernacle painted, I do not like a thing so much besainted. Protestant. When these old windows were at first new painted 'Twas to adorn, the Church in seemly way Whereas you say they are so much befainted, 'Tis but the pictures of the saints not they, But yet I think if they were saints indeed, You'd pull them down, or else you'd make them bleed. Glaster. Sir, you say true, and truly in my mind, A day will come, when some will pay for all, For if old time, again should turn the wind, And papistry into our land recall, Where they should come again to say their masses, They'd wish us hanged, for pulling down their glasses. Separatist. 'Tis no matter, what weigh we their wishes. Flowers will grow you know where serpents hisses, And light will shine to us that truth doth handle, While they in darkness sit, and hold the candle; Give us the light, let them in darkness mass it, 'tis now our right, when it's theirs, let them new glass it. Protestant. This is even just according to this world, What's min's, mine own, and no man is the better, But when I am dead, and in my grave is hurled, where's then my right, or who is then my debtor; What in this world we do unjustly grapple, I fear i'th' next, 'twill make our bones to rattle. Glazier. Me thinks 'tis pity ancient monuments Because they are popish; that's the harm they do, Should from the Churches thus be torn and rend, Then pull down Churches they are popish too; For surely they were built in popish times, And still are guilty of some popish signs. Protestant. Glasiers be merry, golden days are come, Drink off old sherry, let your diamonds run On white and green, no yellows, blewes, nor reds, Shall dim your sights, or trouble more your heads; 'Tis better ordered till the day of doom, We banish colours to the sea of Room. Separatist. But yet not so I do not like that way, Fearing the Pope, a mass for us should say; And we be guilty of their Idolatry, Should so be damned to hell eternally; Therefore to bar the dangers that may fall, 'Tis better break them into pieces small. Glazier. Nay better than us glasiers them detain, For being broke, they will do no man good, They may perhaps in time come up again, And we may pitch them where before they stood, For sure 'twil vex our heads thrice more to make then Then now it will your consciences to break them. Protestant. Were I a Glazier, sure I now might live With ruins of Church windows, and might give A yearly pension to those hungry souls Th●t daily walk within the Church of P●ules, And make Saint Peter from the painted gl sse, Through clear white day to see an English mass. Glazier. Were you a Glazier it would vex your mind, To see such curious windows broken here, Seeing they hurt no man in any kind; And sure they cost our ancient father's dear, But were Saint Peter here set with Saint Paul You'd pull them down, nay Crucifix and all. Separatist. What's Paul or Peter unto any here, Or what's the crucifix, or Mary's peer; Why should we suffer in our Church to stand, Such fabulous Idols made by mortal band The Lord forbids it, and we must obey, Fearing least people unto them should pray. Protestant. See here's the picture of our Gracious Queen Elizabeth of famous memory, Which picture is in many Churches seen, As a memorial to eternity: It is no Idol, yet by mortal hand, 'Tis marv'le your zeal will suffer it to stand. Separatist. Sir, that's a picture that may well deserve (For that the Church she did so well preserve, From popish errors, and from other crimes) A lasting memory in all our times, Should we that picture seek for to deface, We wrong our Church, likewise contemn his grace. Glazier. Sir, let me ask you one thing by the way, Is not our saviour Christ head of his Church; And doth not he preserve it night and day, From all invading enemies, foul lurch Yet we his picture from his Churches raze, And think thereby we do him no disgrace. Protestant. Me thinks it is a comely descent thing, To see our Saviour's picture in the Church And Saints in every light or window seen; The more to a dorne and beautify this Church, For in my mind, that place would best beseem A Saviour's picture, than a pictured Queen, Separist. The Lord defend me, thou art one of hope, And, an adopted son unto the Pope, Thy faith is feeble, and thy state is weak, Thou dost so fond and profanely speak, Truly I fear the Lord hath thee forsaken, Thou art so much with popish relics taken. Protestant. It seems all's popish that's not like to you, Sir, we are protestants, Professors true, Of Christian faith, though we seem not to raze These ancient things, our Churches to deface; For sure our fathers lived in Popish days, (Long before we) that first these things did raise. Separist. You sail too far upon the Popish sea, Your ship is Cracked, your anchor at decay, Your sails are fair, yet made of rotten Cloth, Your mast is high, and for to stoop 'tis loath, But it must bend, the Lord says, they that climb Unless by faith, will fall in a short time. Protestant. Sir, your deceived we do not love to climb, Though we have faith, but love not to presume, And we have hope will bring us home in time, Whilst you at rovers fail to meet the moon Your faith's Eclipsed your hope is fled 'tis strange Your charity and zeal should love to range Glazier Perhaps their gone to some Astronomer To try the planntes or to meet their fate Or else perchance they are gone to Amsterdamne To Ananias or some other mate, If faith be sick and hopes weak stomach wamble, Then charity and Zeal may well go ramble. Separist. Learned and profane sons to iniquity, To jeer a man of Zeal and piety, The Lord will curse such superstitious fools, And cast them out from Ananias Schools: I think you some of Rome's impestuous store, Who loves the painted Glass loves Idols more. Protestant Proud Brother peace, the paint placed in Glass, Shows better far, then in your sister's face, Which if upon themselves they did bestow, You'll love them well, yea you will saint them too, And if the spirit move, not think't a miss, Upon them to bestow a holy kiss. Separist. Blasphemous words from superstitious tongue, Had ever piety and Zeal such wrong By superfluous and profane report, Thus to revile the anointed of the Lord, Trvely He leave such children of the Devil, Fearing the Lord should curse me for your evil. Glazier. What need these ieers, you talk of profanation, Impiety, and things not now in fashion, End your foul faction, here amend What is amiss on both sides, do not spend your Talents Idly, let an end be made, Live by your Zeal, and I will by my trade. FINIS.