THE ORGANS FUNERAL OR THE CHORISTERS LAMENTATION FOR THE ABOLISHMENT Of Superstition and Superstitious Ceremonies.  
In a Dialogicall Discourse between a Quirister and an Organist, An. Dom. 1642.  
London, printed for George Kirby.   

The Qreristers Lamentation for the Abolishment of Superstition and superstitious Ceremonies.  Chorister. 
Woo and alas, the day of absolution is at hand whereby we shall be freed from our sins of superstition a●d worshipping of God in his Service with superfluous Ceremonies, which now is termed by many Idolatrous rags of Popery, the original whereof they say came from the Pope, which is called Antichrist, and introduced into our Church by the great Patriarch at Lambeth, which if a Parliament had not happened in the Climacterical year of his fall, and that he had but obtained the dignity of a Cardinal, we might then have been sure of protection from his little Grace, and have been by him defended, and maintained our means and revenues, augmented not diminished, and might have risen to great preferment; but now all these our hopes are frustrate, our grand Patron of our infirm●ies is in Limbo, his little honour is now coverted to great disgrace, which if he had had but the knowledge to predicted his fate, he would have endeavoured to have prevented it. But he was it seems so confident of his power and safety in his place of dignity, that if Augustus Cesar had been now to war against him, he could not be vanquished. But we may see how vain a thing it is to trust in riches, in friend's, or in the favour of princes in the time of danger, for nothing is able to defend from the just vengeance of God, against heinous transgressors and offenders: And if we had but thought in the least manner of these times, we would have been more cautious in seeking the favour of great men, and submitting ourselves to their wills be they never so refractory from that which is good, for hopes of a little preferment, but truly I thought as I was taught that it was no sin to use Ceremonies, but that they were things of an indifferent quality, and might be used without offence, but one comfort is I could not be brought to conceive the exercise of them to be of absolute necessity to salvation, as some of the learned prelate's would have it, but a thing that might be aswell refused as used, yet I could never have the power to refuse the use of them, for that preferment had the predominance in my brain, and I conceived it better to live in some good fashion, pleasing to men, then in disgrace and disfavour of the higher powers, daily in danger by them to be questioned and sentenced to be pillored and lose my ears, nay and perchance fined and banished, or perpetual imprisonment, in goo●-sooth I loved my reputation, ears, money and liberty better than so. But now the current of the stream runs in another channel, I must go with the tide, lest now on the other side I may be in as much danger as I was before, for using these Ceremonies in the exercise of Religion is the best way to save my place, or to have some means allowed me for the mrintenance of myself, wife, and children, for which purpose I might have in the time I have been preferred to this place, furnished myself with sufficient moneys which I have gotten by the by besides my yearly pension for singing; as for teaching to sing young Artists in that Science, and other ways, but that I was too much given to the Tavern and Alehouse, yea, and to play now and then at Venus' Game with loving Citizens wives, whom I would almost persuade I could procure pardon for that offence But those joys are gone, I must now betake myself to another course of life, or else I doubt I shall far as those do in the Catehouse: But what think you, will Organs and fing be put down as well as Ceremonies.  
Organist. Truly I have heard there are many enemies towards us as to you, and strive hard to bring us to destruction, so that our Ancient and famous Sound may be no more heard in this famous Island of England, which hath been glorious for Zeal and Devotion in religion all over Europe: But yet we hold up and use our profession without contradiction, which I hope will still be continued as a decent and comely thing in the Church, and a remembrance of the Ordinances of the Law, and serves fitly to show that we acknowledge in our religion aswell the Law as the Gospel, and agrees well to the retunying of both Testaments in print in this Kingdom, and that we este me not one above the other, which is contrains; and I think Brother singer your profession will hold still.  
querist. If that continues I care not, for let them do what they will with Ceremonies, I can as well sing without a Surplice or black Hood and Tippet, or Cope, or any other Implement whatsoever, if it shall be so thought fit and commanded, for I am of the same religion with the Parliament and the State; If they command I will obey; and if there were no Parliament, then t●e greatest in Authority in the State I would obey right or wrong, it's the best policy to serve the times, and change with the wind, for by that means I may be safe when others are questioned, at home in peace and security when others for their Constancy are one time or another, be they in the true or false way, troubled and oppressed, therefore my study and endeavour shall be to keep myself as much as I can, at all times, and upon all occasions from danger.  Organs. 
Well Brother we will talk more concerning this business at this time, but refer the same till we hear more, and then we will advise with our best wits what course will be best for us to take.  Querist. 
Let us then so do. Farewell.   


We may 〈◊〉 abjure our singing,  
For Ceremonies bringing  
Into the Church, and ringing  
For the downfall of the Organs,  
Alas poor Organs.   

A Quirister may hang himself,  
For wanting his diviner ●elfe,  
He's ta'en now for a Clergy Elf,  
Being drowned in Superstition,  
Alas fond superstition.   

The Wren is now defiled in's nest,  
And signed with the mark o'th' Beast,  
And powdered now for a Lent Feast,  
Which made him seem a regulus.  
Alas poor regulus.   

Let Ceremonies then deplore  
Their Fortune greater than before,  
Down Idols, Crosses, Ceremonies,  
Alas poor Ceremonies.   
FINIS.