opening the prisons and dungeons, called out of darkness and bonds the elect martyrs and witnesses of their Redeemer. They restored the body to ease and wealth; but these, the oppressed conscience to that freedom which is the chief prerogative of the gospel; taking off those cruel burdens imposed not by necessity, as other tyrants are wont for the safeguard of their lives, but laid upon our necks by the strange wilfulness and wantonness of a needless and jolly persecutor called Indifference. Lastly, some of those ancient deliverers have had immortal praises for preserving their citizens from a famine of corn. But these, by this only repulse of an unholy heirarchy, almost in a moment replenished with saving knowledge their country nigh famished for want of that which should feed their souls. All this being done while two armies in the field stood gazing on, the one in reverence of such nobleness quietly gave back and dislodged; the other, spite of the unruliness, and doubted fidelity in some regiments, was either persuaded or compelled to disband and retire home. With such a majesty had their wisdom begirt itself, that whereas others had levied war to subdue a nation that sought for peace, they sitting here in peace, could so many miles extend the force of their single words, as to overawe the dissolute stoutness of an armed power secretly stirred up and almost hired against them. And having by a solemn protestation vowed themselves and the kingdom anew to God and his service, and by a prudent foresight above what their fathers thought on, prevented the dissolution and frustrating of their designs by an untimely breaking up; notwithstanding all the treasonous plots against them, all the rumours either of rebellion or invasion, they have not been yet brought to change their constant resolution, ever to think fearlessly of their own safeties, and hopefully of the commonwealth: which hath gained them such an admiration from all good men, that now they hear it as their ordinary surname, to be

lot fell into such times, and to be bred in such places, where if they chanced to be taught any thing good, or of their own accord had learnt it, they might see that presently untaught them by the custom and ill example of their elders; so far in all probability was their youth from being misled by the single power of example, as their riper years were known to be unmoved with the baits of preferment, and undaunted for any discouragement and terrour which appeared often to those that loved religion and their native liberty; which two things God hath inseparably knit together, and hath disclosed to us, that they who seek to corrupt our religion, are the same that would enthral our civil liberty. Thus in the midst of all disadvantages and disrespects, (some also at last not without imprisonment and open disgraces in the cause of their country,) having given proof of themselves to be better made and framed by nature to the love and practice of virtue, than others under the holiest precepts and best examples have been headstrong and prone to vice; and having in all the trials of a firm ingrafted honesty not oftener buckled in the conflict than given every oppo- | sition the foil; this moreover was added by favour from heaven, as an ornament and happiness to their virtue, that it should be neither obscure in the opinion of men, nor eclipsed for want of matter equal to illustrate itself; God and man consenting in joint approbation to choose them out as worthiest above others to be both the great reformers of the church, and the restorers of the commonwealth. Nor did they deceive that expectation which with the eyes and desires of their country was fixed upon them; for no sooner did the force of so much united excellence meet in one globe of brightness and efficacy, but encountering the dazzled resistance of tyranny, they gave not over, though their enemies were strong and subtle, till they had laid her groveling upon the fatal block; with one stroke winning again our lost liberties and charters, which our forefathers after so many battles could scarce main-saluted the fathers of their country, and sit as gods tain. And meeting next, as I may so resemble, with the second life of tyranny (for she was grown an ambiguous monster, and to be slain in two shapes) guarded with superstition, which hath no small power to captivate the minds of men otherwise most wise, they neither were taken with her mitred hypocrisy, nor terrified with the push of her bestial horns, but break-piece-mcal upon the grievances and wrongs of their ing them, immediately forced her to unbend the pontifical brow, and recoil; which repulse only given to the prelates (that we may imagine how happy their removal would be) was the producement of such glorious effects and consequences in the church, that if I should compare them with those exploits of highest fame in poems and panegyrics of old, I am certain it would but diminish and impair their worth, who are now my argument; for those ancient worthies delivered men from such tyrants as were content to inforce only an outward obedience, letting the mind be as free as it could; but these have freed us from a doctrine of tyranny, that offered violence and corruption even to the inward persuasion. They set at liberty nations and cities of men good and bad mixed together; but these

among daily petitions and public thanks flowing in upon them. Which doth so little yet exalt them in their own thoughts, that, with all gentle affability and courteous acceptance, they both receive and return that tribute of thanks which is tendered them; testifying their zeal and desire to spend themselves as it were

distressed nation; insomuch that the meanest artizans and labourers, at other times also women, and often the younger sort of servants assembling with their com plaints, and that sometimes in a less humble guise than for petitioners, have gone with confidence, that neither their meanness would be rejected, nor their simplicity contemned; nor yet their urgency distasted either by the dignity, wisdom, or moderation of that supreme senate; nor did they depart unsatisfied. And indeed if we consider the general concourse of suppliants, the free and ready admittance, the willing and speedy r dress in what is possible, it will not seem much other wise, than as if some divine commission from heave were descended to take into hearing and commiseration the long remediless afflictions of this kingdom; we

it not that none more than themselves labour to remove | world, and I among those, who nothing admire his and divert such thoughts, lest men should place too idol a bishopric; and hold that it wants so much to much confidence in their persons, still referring us and be a blessing, as that I rather deem it the merest, the our prayers to him that can grant all, and appointing falsest, the most unfortunate gift of fortune. And were the monthly return of public fasts and supplications. the punishment and misery of being a prelate bishop Therefore the more they seek to humble themselves, the terminated only in the person, and did not extend to more does God, by manifest signs and testimonies, the affliction of the whole diocese, if I would wish visibly honour their proceedings; and sets them as the any thing in the bitterness of soul to mine enemy, I mediators of this his covenant, which he offers us to would wish him the biggest and fattest bishopric. But renew. Wicked men daily conspire their hurt, and it he proceeds; and the familiar belike informs him, that comes to nothing; rebellion rages in our Irish province, a rich widow, or a lecture, or both, would content but, with miraculous and lossless victories of few against me:" whereby I perceive him to be more ignorant in many, is daily discomfited and broken; if we neglect his art of divining than any gipsy. For this I cannot not this early pledge of God's inclining towards us, by omit without ingratitude to that Providence above, the slackness of our needful aids. And whereas at other who hath ever bred me up in plenty, although my life times we count it ample honour when God vouchsafes hath not been unexpensive in learning, and voyaging to make man the instrument and subordinate worker about; so long as it shall please him to lend me what of his gracious will, such acceptation have their prayers he hath hitherto thought good, which is enough to found with him, that to them he hath been pleased to serve me in all honest and liberal occasions, and somemake himself the agent, and immediate performer of thing over besides, I were unthankful to that highest their desires; dissolving their difficulties when they bounty, if I should make myself so poor, as to solicit are thought inexplicable, cutting out ways for them needily any such kind of rich hopes as this fortunewhere no passage could be seen; as who is there so teller dreams of. And that he may further learn how regardless of divine Providence, that from late occur- his astrology is wide all the houses of heaven in spellrences will not confess? If therefore it be so high a ing marriages, I care not if I tell him thus much prograce when men are preferred to be but the inferior fessedly, though it be the losing of my rich hopes, as officers of good things from God, what is it when God he calls them, that I think with them who, both in pruhimself condescends, and works with his own hands to dence and elegance of spirit, would choose a virgin of falfil the requests of men? Which I leave with them as mean fortunes honestly bred, before the wealthiest the greatest praise that can belong to human nature: widow. The fiend therefore, that told our Chaldean hit that we should think they are at the end of their the contrary, was a lying fiend. His next venom he progress, but that they will go on to follow his utters against a prayer, which he found in the AnimadAimighty leading, who seems to have thus covenanted versions, angry it seems to find any prayers but in the with them; that if the will and the endeavour shall be service book; he dislikes it, and I therefore like it theirs, the performance and the perfecting shall be his. the better. "It was theatrical," he says; and yet it Whence only it is that I have not feared, though many consisted most of Scripture language; it had no rubric we men have miscarried in praising great designs to be sung in an antic cope upon the stage of a high before the utmost event, because I see who is their as- altar. "It was bigmouthed," he says; no marvel, if sistant, who is their confederate, who hath engaged his it were framed as the voice of three kingdoms; neither potent arm to support and crown with success their was it a prayer so much as a hymn in prose, frequent fath, their fortitude, their just and magnanimous ac- both in the prophets, and in human authors; therefore tions till he have brought to pass all that expected good the style was greater than for an ordinary prayer. "It which, his servants trust, is in his thoughts to bring upon was an astonishing prayer." I thank him for that conthis land in the full and perfect reformation of his church. fession, so it was intended to astound and to astonish Thus far I have digressed, readers, from my former the guilty prelates; and this confuter confesses, that bject; but into such a path, as I doubt not ye will with him it wrought that effect. But in that which gree with me, to be much fairer and more delightful follows, he does not play the soothsayer, but the diathan the roadway I was in. And how to break off sud- bolic slanderer of prayers. "It was made," he says, denly into those jarring notes which this confuter hath "not so much to please God, or to benefit the weal set me, I must be wary, unless I can provide against public," (how dares the viper judge that?) "but to fending the ear, as some musicians are wont skilfully intimate," saith he, " your good abilities to her that is to all out of one key into another, without breach of haryour rich hopes, your Maronilla.” How hard is it mony. By good luck therefore bis ninth section is spent when a man meets with a fool, to keep his tongue from to mournful elegy, certain passionate soliloquies, and two folly! That were miserable indeed to be a courtier of whole pages of interrogatories that praise the Remon- Maronilla, and withal of such a hapless invention, as Frant even to the sonneting of "his fresh cheek, quick that no way should be left me to present my meaning Yes, round tongue, agil hand, and nimble invention." but to make myself a canting probationer of orisons. In his tenth section he will needs erect figures, and The Remonstrant, when he was as young as I, could tel fortunes; # I am no bishop,” he says, “I was never bera to it." Let me tell therefore this wizard, since he ralulates so right, that he may know there be in the

"Teach each hollow grove to sound his love, Wearying echo with one changeless word." Toothless Satires.

And so he well might, and all his auditory besides | good teaching, as to have discerned between faithful

with his "teach each."

"Whether so me list my lovely thoughts to sing, Come dance ye nimble dryads by my side, Whiles I report my fortunes or my loves.”

Toothless Satires.

teachers and false. But now, with a most inhuman cruelty, they who have put out the people's eyes, reproach them of their blindness; just as the Pharisees their true fathers were wont, who could not endure that the people should be thought competent judges of Delicious! he had that whole bevy at command Christ's doctrine, although we know they judged far whether in morrice or at maypole; whilst I by this better than those great rabbies: yet "this people,” said figure-caster must be imagined in such distress as to they," that knows not the law is accursed." We need sue to Maronilla, and yet left so impoverished of what not the authority of Pliny brought to tell us, the people to say, as to turn my liturgy into my lady's psalter. cannot judge of a minister: yet that hurts not. For Believe it, graduate, I am not altogether so rustic, and as none can judge of a painter, or statuary, but he who nothing so irreligious, but as far distant from a lec- is an artist, that is, either in the practice or theory, turer, as the merest laic, for any consecrating hand of which is often separated from the practice, and judges a prelate that shall ever touch me. Yet I shall not learnedly without it; so none can judge of a christian decline the more for that, to speak my opinion in the teacher, but he who hath either the practice, or the knowcontroversy next moved, "whether the people may be ledge of christian religion, though not so artfully allowed for competent judges of a minister's ability." digested in him. And who almost of the meanest For how else can be fulfilled that which God hath pro- Christians hath not heard the Scriptures often read from mised, to pour out such abundance of knowledge upon his childhood, besides so many sermons and lectures all sorts of men in the times of the gospel? How should more in number than any student hath heard in philothe people examine the doctrine which is taught them, sophy, whereby he may easily attain to know when he as Christ and his apostles continually bid them do? is wisely taught, and when weakly? whereof three How should they "discern and beware of false pro-ways I remember are set down in Scripture; the one phets, and try every spirit," if they must be thought is to read often that best of books written to this purunfit to judge of the minister's abilities? The apostles pose, that not the wise only, but the simple and ignorever laboured to persuade the christian flock, that they ant, may learn by them; the other way to know of a "were called in Christ to all perfectness of spiritual minister is, by the life he leads, whereof the meanest knowledge, and full assurance of understanding in the understanding may be apprehensive. The last way to mystery of God." But the non-resident and plurality- judge aright in this point is, when he who judges, lives gaping prelates, the gulfs and whirlpools of benefices, a christian life himself. Which of these three will the but the dry pits of all sound doctrine, that they may confuter affirm to exceed the capacity of a plain arthe better preach what they list to their sheep, are still tizan? And what reason then is there left, wherefore possessing them that they are sheep indeed, without he should be denied his voice in the election of his judgment, without understanding," the very beasts of minister, as not thought a competent discerner? It is mount Sinai," as this confuter calls them; which words but arrogance therefore, and the pride of a metaphyof theirs may serve to condemn them out of their own sical fume, to think that "the mutinous rabble" (for so mouths, and to shew the gross contrarieties that are in he calls the christian congregation) "would be so mistheir opinions for while none think the people so void taken in a clerk of the university," that were to be their of knowledge as the prelates think them, none are so minister. I doubt me those clerks, that think so, are backward and malignant as they to bestow knowledge more mistaken in themselves; and what with truanting upon them; both by suppressing the frequency of ser- and debauchery, what with false grounds and the mons, and the printed explanations of the English weakness of natural faculties in many of them, (it beBible. No marvel if the people turn beasts, when theiring a maxim in some men to send the simplest of their teachers themselves, as Isaiah calls them, “are dumb and greedy dogs, that can never have enough, ignor ant, blind, and cannot understand; who while they all look their own way, every one for his gain from his quarter," how many parts of the land are fed with windy ceremonies instead of sincere milk; and while one prelate enjoys the nourishment and right of twenty ministers, how many waste places are left as dark as “Galilee of the Gentiles, sitting in the region and shadow of death," without preaching minister, without light. So little care they of beasts to make them men, that by their sorcerous doctrine of formalities, they take the way to transform them out of christian men into judaizing beasts. Had they but taught the land, or suffered it to be taught, as Christ would it should have been in all plenteous dispensation of the word, then the poor mechanic might have so accustomed his ear to

sons thither,) perhaps there would be found among them as many unsolid and corrupted judgments both in doctrine and life, as in any other two corporations of like bigness. This is undoubted, that if any carpenter, smith, or weaver, were such a bungler in his trade, as the greater number of them are in their profession, he would starve for any custom. And should he exercise his manufacture as little as they do their talents, he would forget his art; and should he mistake his tools as they do theirs, he would mar all the work he took in hand. How few among them that know to write, or speak in a pure style; much less to distinguish the ideas, and various kinds of style; in Latin barbarous, and oft not without solecisms, declaiming in rugged and miscel laneous gear blown together by the four winds, and in their choice preferring the gay rankness of Apuleius Arnobius, or any modern fustianist, before the native

Latinisms of Cicero. In the Greek tongue most of | apart to his ministry, are by him endued with an ability them unlettered, or “unentered to any sound proficiency of prayer; because their office is to pray for others, in those attic masters of moral wisdom and eloquence." and not to be the lip-working deacons of other men's In the Hebrew text, which is so necessary to be under-appointed words. Nor is it easily credible, that he who stood, except it be some few of them, their lips are can preach well, should be unable to pray well; whenas utterly uncircumcised. No less are they out of the it is indeed the same ability to speak affirmatively, or way in philosophy, pestering their heads with the doctrinally, and only by changing the mood, to speak sapless dotages of old Paris and Salamanca. And that prayingly. In vain therefore do they pretend to want which is the main point, in their sermons affecting the utterance in prayer, who can find utterance to preach. comments and postils of friars and Jesuits, but scorning And if prayer be the gift of the Spirit, why do they and slighting the reformed writers; insomuch that the admit those to the ministry, who want a main gift of better sort among them will confess it a rare matter to their function, and prescribe gifted men to use that hear a true edifying sermon in either of their great which is the remedy of another man's want; setting churches; and that such as are most hummed and ap- them their tasks to read, whom the Spirit of God stands plauded there, would scarcely be suffered the second ready to assist in his ordinance with the gift of free bearing in a grave congregation of pious Christians. conceptions? What if it be granted to the infirmity Is there cause why these men should overwean, and be of some ministers (though such seem rather to be half so queasy of the rude multitude, lest their deep worth ministers) to help themselves with a set form, shall it should be undervalued for want of fit umpires? No, therefore be urged upon the plenteous graces of others? my matriculated confutant, there will not want in any And let it be granted to some people while they are congregation of this island, that hath not been alto- babes, in christian gifts, were it not better to take it gether famished or wholly perverted with prelatish away soon after, as we do loitering books and interleaven; there will not want divers plain and solid lineary translations from children; to stir up and exermen, that have learned by the experience of a good cise that portion of the Spirit which is in them, and conscience, what it is to be well taught, who will soon not impose it upon congregations who not only deny look through and through both the lofty nakedness of to need it, but as a thing troublesome and offensive, your latinizing barbarian, and the finical goosery of refuse it? Another reason which he brings for liturgy, your peat sermon actor. And so I leave you and your is "the preserving of order, unity, and piety;" and fellow" “stars,” as you term them, " of either horizon," the same shall be my reason against liturgy. For I, meaning I suppose either hemisphere, unless you will readers, shall always be of this opinion, that obedience be ridiculous in your astronomy: for the rational hori- to the spirit of God, rather than to the fair seeming zon in heaven is but one, and the sensible horizons in pretences of men, is the best and most dutiful order earth are innumerable; so that your allusion was as that a Christian can observe. If the Spirit of God erroneous as your stars. But that you did well to manifest the gift of prayer in his minister, what more prognosticate them all at lowest in the horizon; that is, seemly order in the congregation, than to go along either seeming bigger than they are through the mist with that man in our devoutest affections? For him and vapour which they raise, or else sinking and wasted to abridge himself by reading, and to forestall himself to the snuff in their western socket. in those petitions, which he must either omit, or vainly repeat, when he comes into the pulpit under a shew of order, is the greatest disorder. Nor is unity less broken, especially by our liturgy, though this author would almost bring the communion of saints to a communion of liturgical words. For what other reformed church holds communion with us by our liturgy, and does not rather dislike it? And among ourselves, who knows it not to have been a perpetual cause of disunion?

SECT. XI.

His eleventh section intends I know not what, unless te clag us with the residue of his phlegmatic sloth, ssing with a heavy pulse the "expedience of set forms;" which no question but to some, and for some

may

be permitted, and perhaps there may be sefully set forth by the church a common directory of pablie prayer, especially in the administration of the acraments. But that it should therefore be enforced where both minister and people profess to have no need, but to be scandalized by it, that, I hope, every sensible Christian will deny and the reasons of such denial the confuter himself, as his bounty still is to his adversary, will give us out of his affirmation. First seth he, "God in his providence hath chosen some to Leach others, and pray for others, as ministers and pastors." Whence I gather, that however the faculty of others may be, yet that they whom God hath set

Lastly, it hinders piety rather than sets it forward, being more apt to weaken the spiritual faculties, if the people be not weaned from it in due time; as the daily pouring in of hot waters quenches the natural heat. For not only the body and the mind, but also the improvement of God's Spirit, is quickened by using. Whereas they who will ever adhere to liturgy, bring themselves in the end to such a pass by overmuch leaning, as to lose even the legs of their devotion. These inconveniencies and dangers follow the compelling of set forms: but that the toleration of the English liturgy now in use is more dangerous than the compelling of any other, which the reformed churches use, these reasons following may evince. To contend that it is fantastical, if not senseless in some places, were a

copious argument, especially in the Responsories. | of an idolater's prayer, much more the cond

of his prayer. This confuter himself cont community of the same set form in pra which "makes church and church truly or using a liturgy far more like to the mass any protestant set form, by his own words more communion with the Romish churc any of the reformed. How can we then with them the curse and vengeance of their to whom we come so near in the same dress of our devotion? Do we think to s finer than we are sure God in his jealo detested both the gold and the spoil of id and forbid the eating of things offered to we stronger than he, to brook that which not brook? It is not surely because prayers are no where to be had but at were a foul scorn and indignity cast up formed churches, and our own: if we in the godly ministers of England are not mould a better and more pious liturgy t was conceived and infanted by an idol how basely were that to esteem of God' the holy blessings and privileges of a tru a false! Hark ye, prelates, is this your of England, who, whenas Christ hath pray, thinks it not enough unless she teaching of Antichrist? How can we be refuse to take the stipend of Rome, whe to live upon the almsbasket of her pra persuade us, that ye can curse Rome f when none but Rome must teach ye t ham disdained to take so much as a t latchet from the king of Sodom, thoug but a wicked king; and shall we rec at the bounty of our more wicked ener are no gifts, but the instruments of ou that the Spirit of God should blow wind, should so mistake his inspiring, gifts promised only to the elect, the should find words acceptable to prese abound to their neighbours, while th of the gospel can find nothing of the constituting, wherewith to worship Consider if this be to magnify the ch and not rather to display her nakedne Like therefore as the retaining of th is a provocation to God, and a dishon so is it by those ceremonies, those pur

For such alternations as are there used must be by several persons; but the minister and the people cannot so sever their interests, as to sustain several persons; he being the only mouth of the whole body which he presents. And if the people pray, he being silent, or they ask any one thing, and he another, it either changes the property, making the priest the people, and the people the priest, by turns, or else makes two persons and two bodies representative where there should be but one. Which, if it be nought else, must needs be a strange quaintness in ordinary prayer. The like, or worse, may be said of the litany, wherein neither priest nor people speak any intire sense of themselves throughout the whole, I know not what to name it; only by the timely contribution of their parted stakes, closing up as it were the schism of a sliced prayer, they pray not in vain, for by this means they keep life between them in a piece of gasping sense, and keep down the sauciness of a continual rebounding nonsense. And hence it is, that as it hath been far from the imitation of any warranted prayer, so we all know it hath been obvious to be the pattern of many a jig. And he who hath but read in good books of devotion and no more, cannot be so either of ear or judgment unpractised to distinguish what is grave, pathetical, devout, and what not, but will presently perceive this liturgy all over in conception lean and dry, of affections empty and unmoving, of passion, or any height whereto the soul might soar upon the wings of zeal, destitute and barren; besides errours, tautologies, impertinencies, as those thanks in the woman's churching for her delivery from sunburning and moonblasting, as if she had been travailing not in her bed, but in the deserts of Arabia. So that while some men cease not to admire the incomparable frame of our liturgy, I cannot but admire as fast what they think is become of judgment and taste in other men, that they can hope to be heard without laughter. And if this were all, perhaps it were a compliable matter. But when we remember this our liturgy where we found it, whence we had it, and yet where we left it, still serving to all the abominations of the antichristian temple, it may be wondered now we can demur whether it should be done away or no, and not rather fear we have highly offended in using it so long. It hath indeed been pretended to be more ancient than the mass, but so little proved, that whereas other corrupt liturgies have had withal such a seeming antiquity, as that their publishers have ventured to ascribe them with their worst corruptions eitherings at the altar, a pollution and d to St. Peter, St. James, St. Mark, or at least to Chry-gospel itself; and a kind of driving sostom or Basil, ours hath been never able to find either Galatians to another gospel. For age or author allowable, on whom to father those things apostles taught hath freed us in relig therein which are least offensive, except the two creeds, nances of men, and commands that for Te Deum has a smatch in it of Limbus Patrum: as laid" upon the redeemed of Christ; if Christ had not 66 opened the kingdom of heaven" alist will say, What, no decency i before he had " overcome the sharpness of death." So Certainly, readers, the worship of G that having received it from the papal church as an the very act of prayer and thanks original creature, for aught can be shewn to the con- free and unimposed expressions wh trary, formed and fashioned by workmasters ill to be heart unbidden come into the outw trusted, we may be assured that if God loathe the best greatest decency that can be ima