questions TO BE DISPUTED IN THE counsel OF THE LORDS spiritual After their RETVRNE from their VISITATION.  
 wreath 

When blossoms fall,  
Yet Leaves be seen.  
No Fruit but stalk  
Though Leaves be green:   
GRAMINEA   
●●i●ted at LONDON, by Pasquin, Deputy to Margery Mar-prelate. 1641.   

QVAESTIONS to be disputed in the counsel of the Lords spiritual, after their Return from their Visitation.  
I. WHether the Canons( or Prebendaries, as they are called) coming to sit in the Queeres and Churches, for the gain they have thereby, do receive their reward in this world?  
II. Whether the singing they make every day, may rather be called labour and toil of Asses, and a travail of the body, rather then of the Mind?  
III. Whether Resignations, Permutations, chopping & changing and such coming to benefice, as now is daily used be Simony?  
IV. Whether it be perilous, and not to be suffered by Citizens, that the fat and well fed Priests, and such as are full of idleness, and lascivious living, should dwell so near them without wives of their own?  
V. Whither it be needful in any City to have so many thousand of Masse-mumbling Priests, of which, few or none, teach or can teach the gospel, sith Christ commanded his Apostles, as their very duties and office; Saying, go ye preach the gospel, &c.  
VI. Whither such as do not instruct the People, that is to say, which do not the very true Office that belongs to the Church, may receive, and enjoy the goods of the Church, or are to be called thieves and Robbers?  
VII. Whither there be in all Europe, any one Bishop that doth his Office in such sort, as was prescribed by the Apostles?  
VIII. Whither the Bishops that are careless of their flock, and fall onely to flaying of their sheep, may be called true Pastors, or Hirelings, is Christ calls them?  
IX. Whither the greasing of Priests hands; be the Beasts mark, spoken of in the Apocalypse?  
X. Whither the Doctors, that take no pains with their Doctrine, but are up with the Angels, ought to be called Speculators, rather then Practitioners?  
XI. Whither such as would not have the holy Scripture to be red by the people, do fret, and rage within themselves: that such books are abroad?  
XII. Whither the 1.3. Chap. of Matthew may be applied to the Popish Clergy, and Arminia● Priests of our time?  
XIII. Whither the Persecutors of the gospel, and the truth in our time, may be compared to the pharisees, which sought the death of Christ, and his Apostles?  
XVI. Whether the like matter do not now in these dayes, stir up the Popish affencted People against the truth of the gospel, as is recited in the Acts of the Apostles, concerning Diana of Ephesus?  
XV. Whether that saying of the gospel, Beware of false Prophets, Mat. 7. and that also of Peter, 2 Peter 2, That through covetousness they shall make merchandise of you, with feigned words, and many other like places of Scripture do rightly belong to the whole swarm of the Prelates?  
XVI. Whether that which Christ speaketh, Mat. 24. Of many false Prophets that shall come, may be understood to be of sundry of our Clergy?  
XVII. Whether the Prelates, having been so often taken with the manner to use deceit, and to mock the people, be therefore any more to be trusted afterwards, according to the old rule: He that is once a false knave at is marved if ever he be an honest man?  
XVIII. Whether that saying of Daniel of the abomination of desolation, standing in the holy place, may be aptly applied to the Churches of our time? In which the Clergy prefer themselves before the kingdom of Heaven?  
XIX. Whether it be expedient for the Christian Commonmor-weale, to take away from the Prelates their Dominions, and Dignities, that thereby it may be seen, whether they will return to the ancient Office of the Church?  
XX. Whether the Prelates would not rather that England: yea, all christendom, should be destroyed by warres, then that their Tyranny and power should be destroyed, or any whit diminished?  
XXI. Whether it may be doubted that the Papacy, and the great Beast, will not shortly have an overthrow, as the Scripture saith, sith long time since Germany, denmark, England and Scotland, have fallen from her, and France and Italy, also secretly?  
XXII. Whether the Prelates dispensing all things for money, may not be called spiritual penny Fathers; & therfore be suspected of covetousness?  
XXIII. Whether there may be any hope of goodness conceived of their Recovery: sith Christ denieth, that Blasphemers, and such as withstand the Truth against their Consciences can be healed?  
XXIV. Whither their Primacy be lawfully come by, sith it was gotten of Phocas the Emperour: who was a murderer, and secretly, and with great Treason slay the Emperour Moritius his Lord?  
XXV. Whither the Pope, and all Bishops, be or ought to be called Christs spouse, sith they keep athome, so many Whores and Boyes?  
XXVI. Whither it be to believed, that either the Prelates wish hearty the Concord of Nations, being that their Forgeries are ever the beginnings of warres, or whither they wish any good to the commonweal, over which to their power, they have always tyrannized?  
XXVII. Whither any ought in these dayes to be offended, because the Doctrine of the gospel seemeth to bring Dissensions, and alterations, sith that Christ faith that the same is a singular token, and most plain Demonstration of his Word, which came to sand the sword, and not peace, and to set the Son against the Father, and the Daughter against the Mother?  
XXVIII. Whither the Decre●s of Fathers, and of the Councils ought to be referred and examined, by the prescript rule of the gospel, sith Paul so plainly said, that other Foundations that was already, ought not to be laid, and yet should it come to pass, that many thereupon would build, some gold, some stubble, some wood?  
XXIX. Whither such as in these dayes do confess that there are errors, and in the mean time do not onely contemn, but also condemn such as do show them those Errors, be like unto the Pharisees that said to him, that was born blind, and had received his sight of Christ, we know that God spake to Moses, but who this is( meaning Christ) we know not, nor whence he cometh?  
XXX. Whither that saying of the gospel. Lest happily the romans come and take away our place, John 11. do hit just, such Kings and Princes, as will be born in hand, that if they receive the gospel, it will come to pass, that their people will rebel, and not be obedient?  
XXXI, Whither that which Paul speaking of the Doctrine of Divels, which he in spirit foresaw should arise, doth serve right for our Prelates: who for their Traditions have tormented men, which is the very nature of Satan, who is delighted with murder and blood; and whither the Hon: Assembly in the High Court of Parliament, who prosecute not their Enemies, are not much to be preferred before them: especially, seeing they have such power and love of the whole kingdom, wherewith they might show violence and cruelty? But like Pillars of our Nation they stand to hold us up, and not to throw us down? Laut Deo.  
XXXII. Whether it be to be believed, that a true and godly Reformation can be found out, whilst they sit in Counsels, and Deliberations: who for many Causes are the Popes own Darlings, & that they will rather suffer any thing, then either to lose any jot of their Riches and Commodities: or to have their wickedness and knavery discovered?  
FINIS.