THE ARMINIAN-PRIESTS laſt Petition for their former formalitie, and ancient innovation, both in Church and Common-weale; returned from all parts, with the numerall ſubſcription of 6000 and 666.
VOuchſafe great Lords your favour but to hear,
Our juſt requeſts by us preſented here.
Our Churches open errours, ſome doe ſay,
You would (how e're we brook it) take away;
And wholſome Truths eſtabliſh in their roome;
Such as the way of Truth may well become.
Yet ſome doe doubt, and you perhaps may deeme
What you appoint as fit, will not ſo ſeeme
To us; nor that we ever will endure
So great a change; but reſt your Honours ſure,
That wee our ſelves ſhall now both fully cleare
From all Such ſtaine and fault, and you from feare.
And t'extinguiſh doubt, our duties you ſhall ſee
In ages paſt, both what they were, and be
Even now; while Edward many rites refuſed,
He Maſſe put downe, and this our ſervice chuſed:
We then the Clergic of the Land were ſtrict,
The laſt to keepe; not Maſſe, gainſt it we kickt:
But this Queene Mary had no ſooner ſtaid,
And Maſſe againe enjoynde, but we obaid.
And now her ſiſter (Mary having paide
Fraile natures debt) no ſooner Queene is made,
2 But ſhee againe puts downe that Idoll Maſſe;
Our Rites reſtores, and Service as it was:
To theſe our Father-Prieſts did then ſubmit,
Though moſt (perhaps) did minde it was not fit:
Yet what the State adjudgeth to be beſt,
They queſtion not, but doote, and therein reſt.
Now what our Fathers did, wee meane to doe,
Conforme our ſelves to things confirmde by you.
Like Weavers Shuttles that doe forwards ſpring,
As thriddes riſe up, or fall; then ſtraight beginne
A ſwift Retreate: ſo wee proceed, and priſe,
And ſtraight run backe as States doe fall or riſe.
Wee are not ſo unlearn'd, but wee our duties know,
Which firſt to man, and then to God wee owe.
What Ceremonies in Gods worſhip be?
Or how from Truth they differ, what care we?
Our vaine devices; which if you decent call,
As wee were wont, our due obſervance ſhall
Meet honour adde, our Tapers holy**The reall preſence turnes Al•ars eſpecially into Shrines.
* Shrines, So well beſeeme; things, perſons, places holy,
Conſecrate, (Impoſtours ſacred folly)
Quaint geſtures, Anthems antick coynd and made,
Inſtead of Gods true worſhip, forged by the trade
And art of mens new vaine deviſing witts;
Our fruitleſſe moulds that formes theſe apiſh tricks.
Though ſome be ſtubborne, wee are content alas,
This copper-coyne and counterfeit ſhould paſſe
Divinely currant; wee to all ſubmit.
Not to what God, but man thinks fit:
And for this cauſe wee cannot doubt that favour,
As well may ſuite with this our meeke behaviour:
And firſt that wee may from this ſtorme be freed,
Which hurrieth backe upon our frighted head,
Our holy-handy-workes; wee all our force.
And might oppoſe, yet cannot ſtop the ſourſe;
As**Apocal. 1.15.
* Nilus ruſhing Catarrhacts amaſe Th'aſtoniſht care; even ſo theſe tempeſts raiſe
3 A ſevenfold dread, which rightly might inferre,
The wrathfull blaſts of a mightie thunderer.
Now ayde in this extremitie of neede,
A little ayde (alas) will doe the deed.
If you but us ſuſtaine, and but advance
Our holy Patriarches, their praiſe inhance;
And ſhall ſubmit them but their former ſtate
And loftie chare, that grace and happie fate,
Shall joyntly binde us firmely to fullfill,
Orebeare, cruſh, ſway, and doe even what we will.
And firſt (to ſhew cur gratitude) wee would
Gods Sanctuary build, though not of gold,
Nor ſtone, nor ſilver; but yet his Houſe compile
Of ſtubble, ſtraw, or hay; or (if more vile)
Embaſed refuſe mettall; which if tride,
Nor triall may, nor fires heare abide:
Then wiſely fix our Fortreſſe on the Sands,
And fabricke raiſe where no foundation ſtands:
As learn'd Geometricians uſe to ſquare,
Their narrow bottom'd baſis, fixt on ayre
By rule of Art, not Reaſon; ſo you ſhall ſee,
A Towring Architecture fram'de of vanitie.
From forme and matter though all things beeing take,
No matter wee of forme or matter make;
As Maſter-builders, wee will not care for ſtuffe,
Nor forme, nor order; yet build ſtrong enough.
'T will well beſeeme as meetly worth our having,
Inſtead of Bethel though wee build Bethaven.
Then even in trifles, you our zeale ſhall ſee
Exceed our knowledge, and our knowledge be
In matters ſerious ſlighteſt; but moſt ſlight
Our zeale in things of moment and of weight.
Where ſinnes turne flouds, and as a Deluge roare,
Whoſe billowes proudly doe diſdaine a ſhore
Of finite limits; there wee'le ſtraight hold forth
The Olive-branch from out our peacefull mouth:
But where right words, or works, or wayes are found,
Or but ſo ſeeme, wee'le forthwith frame our ſound
4 Of ſhrill voyce Trumpetts; and (to keepe them under)
Our words of lightnings, and our voyce of thunder.
Then raiſe our lifting State, as may beſeeme
Our ſelues of us to thinke, and others deeme.
Then mans devices, in deſpite of thoſe
Againe advance, that ſhall or dare oppoſe;
And teach for Doctrine what our Fathers did,
Though mens Traditions, and Gods Word forbid
Then wee'le proteſt againſt by joynt conſent.
The right advice of prudent PARLIAMENT;
And teach our ſenſleſſe faction not to flye,
Till State and Church they drench in Tyrian dye.
Then all to expedit, unite, and raiſe
Our inward energitticke Forces; no delayes
Digeſt, or brooke; but even calcine our Arts,
And teach our skill's to improve their better parts.
Thus from each Dutie wee'le not erre one whit,
Not caring how to know, but doe what's fit.
So wee theſe weightie matters well obſerve,
From petty Rites wee paſſe not how we ſwerve
For Tapers, Croſſes, Tippitts, what care wee?
Our Linnen Ephods, Copes, or bended Knee
To Altars Eaſtward ſtanding (nice ones feare)
Or Jeſus named, though no Scriptures beare
Such Byards blameleſſe; that his Word prophane,
Theſe, as you brooke, we like; or elſe count vaine.
We ſpeake of thoſe, to which they now amount,
Their preſent worth; though ſacred, wee account
Such decent Rites: we priſe, and much approve
Thoſe Rites; but theſe are times to hide our love:
All theſe and more, and what we fai••e would have;
But none of theſe is that which now wee crave;
To ſtint this ſtorme, is now our ſole deſire,
'Gainſt which we cannot ſtand; nor will retire
T'immure this Winde, we count our greateſt gaines
Which well effect, were labour worth our paines.
This adds death to dread,〈◊〉deadly feares
To cruell woes; wrecks out comforts, works our cares.
5All our ſorrowes are unto this but flight,
No woes compar'd to this have wight:
The higher powers, and mightie States (alas)
Of old have been our wonted walls of braſſe.
You ſee our reſtleſſe paines; we throng and preſſe
T'impale this winde; but yet finde no redreſſe:
You ſee wee are to induſtrie inclinde,
Nor doe deſiſt, let's helpe and harbour finde:
It ſtrikes our Altars, and blowes out our Tapours;
It waſts our ſtrength, as if it were but vapours;
It ruinates our might, our Rites it raceth;
It ſmiteth all our pompe, our pride defaceth;
Our works it ſcatters, but this doth worke our toyle,
Our Cannons blaſts this tempeſt makes recoyle,
Our grace doth wither, and our glories ceaſe;
Our cares doe more abound, our feares increaſe;
Our honours fade, our high Commiſſions flye;
Our fraud's defeated, our ſecular pow'res dye.
It rends our Rochetts, and our Tippitts teares,
And puts our mortall hearts to mightie feares:
Our ſwords and keyes it ſnatcheth; blaſts our name;
It diſſipates our ſtructure; breakes our frame.
If ever wee obtaine our meete demands;
And herein purchaſe but your helping hands:
Wee'le not be ſluggiſh loggs which no man dreads;
But wiſely will beſtirre our working heads,
To get our pride, and profit, (that's our thirſt,)
Then idleneſſe; all which to purchaſe, firſt
The weapons of our warfare wee'le once more,
Embelliſh, brighten, ſcoure, and burniſh o're;
And firſt our ſecular power ſo refine,
As all that ſee't ſhall ſay, 'tis right divine.
Our croſſe-keyes thus quartered with our ſword,
Both triple gaine, and glory will afford:
Then wee our Cannons fairely will diſplay,
Taffright and chaſe the Puritan away:
And then our Croſier-ſtaves ſhall countermand,
The higheſt powers that can or dare withſtand.
6But now more bravely to performe our parts,
Wee'le joyne our force, and fraud both Mars and Arts;
Theſe ſtormes by ſlight ſubdue, take ſpeedy courſe
To curb their might, break their rage, & race the ſourſe.
Then ſhall our might that goodly maſſe ſuſtaine
Of mans Traditions ever to remaine
To ages ſacred; that ſhall our holy heape
Of Ceremonies ſacred keepe; we thereby reape
Our full content: thus ord'red, theſe things are
Our weapons to maintaine our holy warre.
By your ſole might (if you your aſpect give)
Our Rites ſhall proſper, and our labours live;
If not, they dye; wee muſt be diſeſteem'd;
Strict Prieſts be priſed, and praiſe-worthy deem'd:
Who mens devices ſcorne, who neither know,
What they to Rites, nor to Traditions owe;
If man preſcribes; but muſt forſooth be rul'd
By Gods Word onely, or will nothing build:
But as for us, wee like no ſuch like doing,
If gaine bids goe wee'le run, we brooke not woeing;
Ther's nothing good or bad that wee'le withſtand,
If you preſcribe it, or it State command:
And hereby hope that grace wee ſhall acquire,
Which freely may effect our full deſire.
And firſt our Liturgic, and Courts reſtore,
And higher lift our heads than heretofore;
That wee may be Non-reſidents at will,
Our Rites obſerve, and keepe our Tot-quots ſtill.
But were this winde but laid, theſe would redound,
And all that wee could wiſh beſides abound:
Wee therefore ſeek to ſtop theſe ſtormes with ſpeed,
Wee nothing aske but this; 'tis that we need:
This ſpoyles our ſport, this makes us looſe the game;
This makes our feet ſo feeble, makes us lame:
This diſſipates our union; it ſcatters
Our cunning drifts; it all our juncture ſhatters:
It ſhakes our Baſis, makes our building fall;
It batters downe our Towers, breaks our wall.
7Alas, that it ſhould blaſt what wee invent,
And did deviſe out of a good intent,
To have the earth our owne, the world at will,
Our works to ſtand, our Lawes and luſts fulfill.
This blaſting Winde blowes on us, ther's our paine;
Theſe blaſts break in upon us, that's our bane.
The barbarous**A people at the South of Barbarie by Lybia, Herodotus reports the Storie.
* Pſylli 'gainſt the Winde did warre; Wee thrice more barbarous, and more ſilly are:
Their winds Hoſt was duſt, its weapons ſand:
Our ſtormes are ſent from out the Almighties hand:
They fought, they fear'd, and fled; yet ſuffred death
By feeble Blaſts; our ſtormes immortall breath
Wee feare, and fight againſt; but doe diſdaine to flye
Untill immortall furie force to dye:
Yea, wee conceive wee may it countermand,
By ſole might of mans pu'ſant pow'rfull hand;
And well enough (ſo wee but hit our ayme)
Both us and ours quitte; and raiſe our name.
But firſt with ſubtill skill and cunning Art,
Wee'le play the wiſe and prudent Serpents part.
Shee hurt is ſtraight way heal'd, if ſicke doth flye,
Or weake; if young declineth enmitie.
Not ſhrill but ſilent is; recurved bends
Her ſubmiſſe body any way; ſhee tends
Through ev'ry ſtrait and clift; ſo ſlips her skin;
Her age renues; coucht creepes; unſeene with ſting
And teeth conteſts againſt her foes: Thus wee
Both wiſely meeke, and ſerpentitle will be:
Not fight at firſt; but flye; not breake,
But how; and what may pleaſe be ſure to ſpeake:
Seeme meeke, be out-ſide-Saints, and ſhew ſubmiſſe;
What's right or reaſon, not raile againſt, but hiſſe,
If ſoule and ſordide faults deface our hew,
Wee'le ſlip out ſlough, and ſo our age renew;
And ſpirits of errour ſo refine and fearce,
As they may ſecretly and unſeene pearce.
Then men elude, like Stellious, with our ſtarres
Of painted pietie to fight our warres.
8Adde ſtrength to yeares; to both adde foulds and wiles,
And ſparkling luſtre; all which the world beguiles:
And thus get ſtrength, and ſinew; teeth, and ſting;
And not till now to goe to worke beginne;
Then ſtrike the ſtroake, and freeſe our foes to ice,
By pale narcotick poyſons; then our eyes
And every part ſhall deadly venome vent,
And dart it forth,' aſt were from Serpents ſent.
Which once diſperſt, ſhall penetrate each part;
Both ſtupifie the head, and ſtrike the heart:
Ther's none ſhall fall by Sword, ther's none ſhall fight,
Nor ſtrike a ſtroake, but by our ſubtill ſlight:
But then like ſilent ſhaddowes ſwiftly glide
Unſeene in ſecret, and ſo paſſe unſpide:
Thus wiſe as Serpents are wee'le be; but then
Aſſume the ſhew of Saints; to view be men
Submiſſe, and meeke; hold faſt; but firſt exquire
What man preſcribes (that's even our wiſht deſire)
Mans ancient wayes, yet like not that way beſt,
That's firſt, a golden meane's the way to reſt:
But new or old, wee'le ſtoope injoynde to any
By man; be't faire, or foule, or few or many.
For inward truth wee paſſe not, ſo wee be
Profound in**Hoſ 5.1. That is abundant in the ſacrifices of their own devices.
* ſlaughters; and our ſanctitie In ſpecious ſeeming formes and ſhewes appeare;
Not be indeed, this had, 'tis all our care.
On all that man preſcribes we ſcruple not to build,
Save onely making conſcience unto what wee yeeld.
Thus hating ſtubbornneſſe, wee'le ſtraight beginne,
T'inflame our firie zeale 'gainſt vice and ſinne:
Like muffled Cupid take our ayme and hit
Mans ſinne unſeene; though not diſtinguiſh it,
Nor yet define what exactly it is
We ſmite, yet hit our marke, our ayme not miſſe;
Then preach pure faction to uphold our cauſe,
And ſtand for us (though it withſtand Gods lawes)
And proſelytes teach (although they ſwim in bloud)
To take our part, and thereby raiſe a floud;
9 So to our wils our vaſſalls frame the lay,
As Potters forme their veſlells made of clay;
And teach them ſoundly how to draw their ſword,
Againſt this raging Winde, wee meane the Word.
Then ſet the earth at oddes, enwrapp in warres
The woefull world, the State with mortall jarres
Inflame, exterminate, and wrath excite,
And all this worke by unſeene ſubtill might.
But what is this? (if you aſſent unto it)
'Tis nothing? this? wer't five times more wee'le doe it.
And firſt that we more firmely may endure,
Wee'le ſeeme ſubmiſſe to make our ſtanding ſure:
Then errours myſticall, abſtruſe, and hid,
Elixit raiſe; then ſecretly forbid
The warre eye of man to ſee, the care
Our deepe deviſed drifts and plots to heare:
Be yet more meek, then faithfully wee'le tender
Moſt fained words; ſo make and render
Great perſons ſervile to our faction,
And Laitie our vaſſals of tranſaction.
Then will we might o're-maſter, right o're-beare,
Law curbe, Religion ſtab, nor ſtint we here:
But diſcord filde from**Two Hydraes (that is, water-ſerpents) are muchtreated of in Hiſtorie; one ſlaine by Hercules, which had fiftie, ſome write an hu'dred heads; ever as he cut off one head, two ſprang up in its roome: the other ſlaine by Cadmus, he fild out her teeth and ſowed them, wherof an huge Army of men at once ſprang up, and ſlew each other.
* Hydraes teeth wee'le ſcatter, And all the world into diſſention ſhatter:
As lightnings glance from ſourſe unſeene, ſo wee
From Spiſſeous clouds will ſtrike, that none may ſee
Our deadly darts, ſowe jarres, make mortalls wroth,
And bloudy warres (our ſelves unſeene) hold forth:
Nor ſtint wee here, yet more our worth to ſhow,
Even at our becke wee'le make the proudeſt bow:
Wee'le cloth the world in darkneſſe, blind the light,
That none may know for whom or what they fight.
Then manicles upon that raging Winde
Wee'le caſt, checke, chide, with gives and fetters binde
Thoſe ſturdie ſtormes, thoſe ruſhing tempeſts lay,
And make thoſe mightie Winds our wills obay.
Then cheriſh vice, 'gainſt vertue be ſevere,
Rebellion foſter, to Antichriſt adhere;
10 What's vile advance, what's Orthodoxe reprove,
From peace dehort, by pride ſedition move;
Turne double diligent, and multiply our paines,
So we by it may but augment our gaines.
Thus to your Honours wee our hearts diſcloſe,
Our inward thoughts make knowne, and doe repoſe
Herein that truſt, as that wee hope to have,
Or what we aske, or what we ought to crave.
Democrite quid rides quin luge Heraclite.
The Authors Epilogue.
KNow Reader, and you for whoſe ſakes I am become your Secretary, that two Scriptures concerne this ſubject, and your ſelves, viz.**Amos 5.5. But ſeeke not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal; the ſecond is Amos the 4. and the 4. Come to Bethel and tranſgreſſe, to Gilgal and multiply tranſgreſſion, &c. In the firſt, he dehorts Iſrael; in the ſecond, plainly derides and laughes them to ſcorne: their ſtrange fires (like thoſe of Nadab and Abihu) were the cauſe of this contempt: All Scriptures have abundantly dehorted you from like oblations, wherewith God hath been ſacrificed unto neere this 1600. yeares: in Iſraels puniſhment this alſo is added, that God laughes them to ſcorne: his deriſion antecedes the execution of his fierce wrath: God when he laughes he ſtrikes, what was that contempt but the hight of reprehenſion, the depth of reproofe, and not altogether evill and uſeleſſe (as ſome vainely imagine) when limited by a right rule, nor am I (though I am not confident of an infallibilitie) any wayes conſcious of aggravation or falſhood in this Treatiſe. Si in hac re erro libenter erro, it is Tullyes ſaying11 not mine: in this onely I am confident, Si in hac re erro, it is nec lubens nec libenter, more than I know or deſire to justifie. As faithfull Miniſters were alwayes few in number, and weake in power; ſo this in no wiſe reflects upon ſuch, but upon thoſe onely that have been the workers of this their paucitie and povertie: if you thinke this meaſure meets not, but outſtrips their deſert: I anſwer, it is Toga potius concinna, quam longa; yea, I feare it will prove a great deale too ſhort. Whereas thou ſeeſt in the Embleme the Winds ſtriking and diſperſing the Clouds of darkneſſe, and ignorance, which incloſe the Earth, and the Ministers of that darkneſſe, the corrupt Clergie, and the inſtruments of thoſe Miniſters, the Altars, Tapours, Croſſe-Keyes, with Sword, and Croſier-ſtaves, &c. Which ſhaddow forth the whole lump and heape of Traditions, and devices of man in an. Antitheſis and oppoſition to the free courſe of the Word; Know, that ſome Interpreters have expounded theſe foure Angels there exprest, Revel. 7.1. to be foure chiefe and cardinall ſinnes of the univerſall corrupt Clergie; which may be pride, idolatry, crueltie, and covetouſneſſe: for their pride, to ſhew how they exalt themſelves above and againſt the higher powers, even the Lawes of Chriſts Church and civill State I Need not to inſiſt. For crueltie, the moſt unparralleld Story that I remember, was betwixt two Spaniards; the one a Chriſtian, the other (though convicted in judgement) an Heathen, they challenge the field, the Heathen gets the upper hand, promiſes life if he would renounce his faith; he accepts the condition, abjures it: the Heathen ſtabs him ſaying, he would now be reveng'd of him eternally, body and ſoule their crueltie extends beyond this, even to mens temporall eſtates and liberties whiles they live, and poſteritie after; his but to one, theirs to all. For idolatry the Papiſts have out ſtripped in that all the earth in all ages: their maſter-peice is their idolatry of the Alter; but yet they preſuppoſe the reall preſence there: our corrupt Prieſts worſhip and bow unto (without preſuppoſing any reall preſence as themſelves confeſſe) to the bare wood and ſtone, and therein out ſtrip the Papiſh. For. thein covetouſneſſe I cannot ſay much, perhaps they are free from this fault: wherefore I referre it to every mans judgement and cenſure taught him by his owne experience. 12But what were theſe petty offences of Aarons ſonnes, or the Iſraelites compared with thoſe of the Papiſts or yours? Nadab and Abihu offered but once ſtrange fires, And fire went out from the Lord and conſumed them. This alſo was the cauſe of Iſraels ſcattering and captivitie: Now I aske this queſtion (it skills not who or what the inſtrument be) whether it be more neceſſary or charitable to caſt ſcorne and contempt upon your ſevenfold more ſtubborne perſeverance in ſowing the ſeeds of a farre more deadly and conſuming flame: there may be a right and an happie uſe made of this, though it is uſually Gods laſt and ſharpeſt rebuke in this life; and ſometime Ne plusultra be the inſcription upon it: God laughes, and the**Gen. 3.17. earth and Adams poſteritie are accurſed:**Gen. 11.6. Babel confounded:**1 Kings 18.27.40. Baals Prieſts ſlaine: Iſrael ſcattered and brought to captivitie:**Pa•l. 3.2. the Jewes to a durable and fearefull diſſertion and deſolation: doe not you arride your ſelves, whiles God from heaven derides you: Cum illudit Deus deſtruit, he hath begun to laugh at all your labours, and mocke your hopes, and will (wee truſt) as he hath begun) ſtill cement theſe wiſe-hearted and noble members of that honourable body in a firme, intermutuall, and right underſtanding of each other; and communicate the ſame (with them) to their royall head. But ye boast your ſucceſſe: your pregnant ſeeds of diſcord ſhoot up and ſprout; they ſpring and proſper, Et jam proximus arder, why doth illuſion deceive you? thoſe flames, with the hopes of your wiſhed harvest may ſhortly exterminate in your ruine. Theſe things ſee and conſider, leaſt yee draw deſolation, and ſwift deſtruction upon your ſelves and others: I reſt
Yours (though corroſive) in all neceſſary, and faithfull offices. THO. HARBIA.
FINIS.