The pride and avarice of the clergie, viz. parsons, vicars & curats, hindering the reformation discovered in a plain and familiar dialogue between Philalethes and presbyter / by Abraham Boun, gent.

TO THE READER.

Courteous Reader,

THou hast here (in a plain and familiar Dia∣logue) discovered the car∣nall ends, and poor shifts of the temporizing preten∣ded Clergy of this Nation, whose pretence is Refor∣mation; but their maine designe indeed the preser∣vation of their Parishes,

and thereby the advancing of their honour, and pro∣fit. The most part of the Presbyter's Answers are collected out of certaine Sermons, or rather politi∣ticall Lectures and confe∣rences which I have heard with mine own ears, and the rest is made good ou•• of their practices. It is not to be conceived, that all the Ministers of all the Parish-Congregations in England and Wales, are guil∣ty of all the superstitious and Popish practices, and

other crimes and offences herein mentioned; for I doe aknowledge many to be pious and conscientious men, who have not sub∣mitted to the Bishops yoake, nor received the marke of the Beast: But the generality of the Ministe∣ry being led by some few in every County (whose Oracles are at Sion-Colledge) are so setled on the lees of their old Conformi∣ties and subscriptions, and in the courses which they learned from their Prede∣cessors

that they will not easily be removed. Nor have I much hope, that any of the Ring-leaders of this Faction, will hereby bee brought to acknow∣ledge their errour, much lesse to lay aside their gain∣full callings, which make them Lords over their whole Parishes, but rather expect, that some galled proud Parsons, Vicars, or Curates, or other inferiour Priests or Deacons (as they called them) will raile a∣gainst me as one not fit to

bee answered; and, least others should hear or un∣derstand, will fill the Aire and Ears of all the multi∣tude with sensless noise and outcries in vindicati∣on of their great Diana. Yet I doubt not but the wise in heart will under∣stand, and som of the most ingenuous amongst the Formalists will at the least take a view of their present condition, and be put upon som serious con∣sideration of their by-past courses, and remember

that without Repentance, those that receiv the mark of the Beast, shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God and bee tormented with Fire and Brimstone. A poc. 14. 9. 10. 11.

But that I chiefly in∣tend, is to lay open to the plain and weaker sort of Christians the subtilties, falshoods and vain delu∣sions of our pretending Church-reformers; upon consideration of all which almost the weakest judg∣ments may see sufficient

to satisfie them, that wee can never expect any Through—Reformation whilest the Parliament consults these men who are so many wayes enga∣ged against Reformation by their own Interests of Honour and Profit, the two main Hinges of all their Designs.

I conceiv many will be ready to say, I trouble my felf too much to rake into the Dung-hill of Popish and superstitious Ceremo∣nies beeing dead and buri∣ed,

but therein I desire to bee excused, beeing enforced thereunto by such as I heard defend them in the Pulpit and in private, since they were Damned by Ordinance of Parliament. The defence of which (and of others their Popish Trinkets) is brought in to take away the scandal of their Popish callings from the Bishops, and to justifie their former conformities, least their Parishioners offended should seek out other Pa∣stors,

or (as they call it) Run to separation or In∣dependencie.

I have one thing to adde by way of request to the Reader, which is this, that where hee findeth any Satyrical jests or sar∣kasme's, savoring of too much levity or bitterness, hee would consider whe∣ther the matter occasion∣ing the same from the Pre∣sbyter bee not more ridi∣culous, (and yet it's such as I have heard divulged by one or more of the

most learned of that facti∣on in the Countrey where I live) which may in some sort excuse my ex∣pressions. What I have herein set forth repugnant to the Truth, upon con∣riction, I shall, I hope, gladly retract. So wish∣ing this little Treatise may bee profitable to some, and hurtful to none, Reader! I bid thee farewel.

Abraham Boune.